Shane Warne stand unveiled at Junction Oval

One of the grandstands at the Junction Oval which was formerly named after Kevin Murray, an Australian rules footballer, has been renamed after the late Shane Warne, with Murray welcoming the change. Cricket Victoria and the St. Kilda Cricket Club had begun the process of renaming way before Warne's passing.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground had named its southern stand after Warne at his state funeral in 2022 but the process to rename the heritage-listed stand on the western side of the Junction Oval in St Kilda,took way longer to come to effect. 

The unveiling was attended by Warne's father, Keith, and daughters Summer and Brooke. The presentation of the stand was attended by Test skipper of Australia, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, before featuring in Match 8 of the One-Day Cup at the venue. There were a few of Warne's erstwhile Australia, Victoria, and St. Kilda teammates who were in attendance too.

Keith also supplied memorabilia from Warne's professional career, which Cricket Victoria displayed in the Shane Warne exhibtion in the foyer of their administration and high-performance centre at the northern extreme of the ground. It was an event which could be visited at no cost.

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Would be honored to be chosen for such an accolade: Keith

Warne's proud father spoke on behalf of his son and thanked Cricket Victoria and St. Kilda Cricket Club for a seamless process and ceremony.

"Today marks a very special and proud day for the Warne family to have a stand named the Shane Warne stand here at the Junction Oval is a wonderful tribute to Shane, who we know would be honored to be chosen for such an accolade. Some of Shane's most enjoyable early cricketing years were whilst playing with his beloved St. Kilda, especially when the matches were played here at the Junction Oval," stated Keith, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

As proud as Shane would be to know a stand at the Junction Oval bares his name, he would also be thrilled to know that he will now be forever linked with St. Kilda Cricket Club and the Junction Oval. On behalf of her family, I'd like to thank Cricket Victoria and St. Kilda Cricket Club for their support in honouring Shane with such a wonderful tribute," he added.

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Notably, the venue does hold immense significane when it comes to the Australian wizard as it was at the Junction Oval that he made his first-class debut playing for Victoria against Western Australia in February 1991.