Moore Park

The Sydney Cricket Ground

The SCG took its name in 1894, but the shape these photographs record was already set: the Members' Stand of 1886 in the north-west corner, the Ladies' Pavilion whose foundation stone Viscountess Hampden laid in 1896, and opposite them the two grassed mounds — the Hill and the Paddington Hill — where everyone else stood.

Four days in December 1936 dominate. The Second Test of that summer's Ashes was played here from the 18th to the 22nd, and it went about as badly as a Test can: Australia, caught on a sticky wicket, were bowled out for 80, and Don Bradman — newly made captain and selector, and under open speculation about both — was caught at short leg first ball for nought. Australia lost by an innings and went two-nil down. The photograph of Bradman walking out to bat, and the one of two MCC batsmen doing the same, are from that match. What nobody in the stands could know is that Australia then won the next three Tests and took the series, still the only side ever to come back from 0–2 in an Ashes.

Otherwise the ground is whatever Sydney needed a large enclosed field to be. Tennis is played on it in 1934. Schoolchildren form human flags across the turf. And the crowd is photographed as often as the game: women in hats packed along the rails, spectators banked up in front of timber grandstands long since gone.

11 works
Learie Constantine bowling at the Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1937
photograph·1937·Moore Park

Learie Constantine bowling at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Hood Collection part II : [Sports, CricketSam Hood
Cricketers taking the field, Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1937
photograph·1937·Moore Park

Cricketers taking the field, Sydney Cricket Ground

Hood Collection part II : [Sports, CricketSam Hood
Penfolds pavilion at the Royal Easter Show, Sydney Showground, 1949 — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1949
photograph·1943·Moore Park

Penfolds pavilion at the Royal Easter Show, Sydney Showground, 1949

State Library NSWSam Hood
Test cricket in progress at the Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1930
photograph·1930·Moore Park

Test cricket in progress at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Test cricket at Sydney Cricket GroundSam Hood
Women spectators at the Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, 1936 — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1936
photograph·1936·Moore Park

Women spectators at the Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, 1936

Second test, Sydney
Women spectators in the stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 1936 — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1936
photograph·1936·Moore Park

Women spectators in the stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 1936

Second test, SydneySam Hood
Don Bradman walking out to bat, Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1936
photograph·1936·Moore Park

Don Bradman walking out to bat, Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground

Second test, SydneySam Hood
Two MCC batsmen walking out, Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1936
photograph·1936·Moore Park

Two MCC batsmen walking out, Second Test, Sydney Cricket Ground

Second Test, SydneySam Hood
Spectators and timber grandstands, Sydney Cricket Ground — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1936
photograph·1936·Moore Park

Spectators and timber grandstands, Sydney Cricket Ground

Second Test, SydneySam Hood
Woman tennis player mid-stroke, Sydney, 1934 — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1934
photograph·1934·Moore Park

Woman tennis player mid-stroke, Sydney, 1934

City of Sydney tennisSam Hood
Schoolchildren forming human flags at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 1908 — photograph, from Sydney Cricket Ground, circa 1908
photograph·1908·Moore Park

Schoolchildren forming human flags at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 1908

Visit of American Fleet to Sydney. Public schools display. Sydney Cricket GroundG. A. Hills