Feature: Why 'timeless' Junction Oval is a MUST for any cricket fan

 

The Shane Warne Stand

There are places in this world where time seems to stand reassuringly still. The Junction Oval, St Kilda, in Melbourne’s inner southern suburbs is one of those sanctums which bequeaths its visitors an oasis of calm tucked in a corner of the picturesque sporting hub that is Albert Park.

Just metres away from where the Australian leg of the Formula 1 World Championships is held every March, you can peep beyond the various green tinges of the tree-lined permitter fences to this cricket ground and bear witness to the whirring din of life continuing its increasingly fast pace.

But, why would you want to look that far?

Avert your eyes to the middle distance and lose yourself in a scene that could pass as much for 1925 as 2025.

The white picket fence which encircles the vibrant green playing surface is a perfect nod to tradition, and even the odd advertising billboard cannot lessen its charm.

Grass banks and a white picket fence

A quaint, almost library-like atmosphere is peppered by polite ripples of applause which indicate boundaries or wickets. There is no music, no public address system and certainly none of the pyrotechnics and garish coloured kits designed to complement (a loose term) limited overs cricket.

The battle between bat and ball here dates back to the 1850’s. When two arch-rivals, Victoria and New South Wales, cross swords in the historic Sheffield Shield domestic competition there is a gentlemanly competitiveness to proceedings.

Small pockets of spectators occupy space on the shallow grass banks on one half of the ground.

Those gathered witness the exertions of a man with 562 test wickets to his name amid the backdrop of the two raised red brick stands with cream coloured ironwork that house the bleachers. Nathan Lyon, the wily off spinner toils. His baggy woven pullover, indicative of the early season climate, sports a cherry red stain in the bottom right corner as he tries to make the ball do things that this fairly unresponsive pitch won't.

Resembling a Dickensian character - albeit with designer sports sunglasses - Lyon’s lithe frame bounds to the crease relentlessly. His endeavours yield a couple of scalps having seen many previous efforts prove futile.

"Space Age" CitiPower Centre

There are clues that this ground is very much worthy of a place in the modern era though; in particular the facilities for players and assembled media who are housed in a space age, intergalactic curved glass and steel structure at the northern end of the ground.

Inside are the necessary cricket administration operations to support state cricket. The building is functional but lacks warmth, both metaphorically and literally as custodians are blasted by an arctic-like air conditioning system.

During the lulls in play, a seagull swoops in to a vast expanse behind square, observes a couple of ‘play and misses’ and disappears off down Fitzroy Street towards St Kilda beach and an unsuspecting tourist’s bag of fries. Only then do you realise just how timeless the Junction Oval is.

Avert your eyes away from "modern life"