Cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara honoured by Sydney Cricket Ground

Legends of the sport, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, have been bestowed with a fresh honour, as the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) unveiled the ‘Lara-Tendulkar Gates’ on Monday, April 24. In addition to this, the SCG decided to unveil the gates to coincide with Tendulkar’s 50^th birthday.

The India great became the first non-Australian cricketer alongside Lara to be commemorated with a set of gates at the iconic venue. They are located between the ‘Noble Bradman Messenger Stand’ and the ‘Member's Pavilion's away dressing room’ and the visiting team players will take the field through the ‘Lara-Tendulkar Gates’.

“The Sydney Cricket Ground has been my favourite ground away from India. I have had some great memories at the SCG right from my first tour of Australia in 1991-92. It is a great honour to have the gates used by all visiting cricketers to access the field of play at the SCG named after me and my good friend Brian,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

The 'Master Blaster’ as affectionately known by fans, amassed three centuries at the SCG in five Test outings. His best knock at the venue was an unbeaten 241 against the Aussies, played in the fourth Test in 2004.

Deeply honoured to be recognised at the SCG: Lara

The ‘Prince of Trinidad’ holds the distinction of aggregating the second-highest Test score at the SCG. The Caribbean great scored 277 against Australia at the SCG in 1993, and is only behind Michael Clarke, who scored an unbeaten 329 against India at the picturesque venue. 

“I’m deeply honoured to be recognised at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as I’m sure Sachin is. The ground holds many special memories for me and my family and I always enjoy visiting whenever I’m in Australia,” Lara was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

It is understood that the Pakistan men's cricket team is likely to be the first visiting team to walk through the gates during the annual New Year's Test in Sydney in 2024.