Melbourne's Junction Oval could soon have a new name as St Kilda Cricket Club moves to honour their hero.
The club wants to rename the ground Shane Warne Oval in a tribute to the retiring bowler who debuted there.
St Kilda Cricket Club president Ron Laird said the idea was first floated by board members several years ago, and the club was determined to secure the change.
"We first had the idea when Warne was selected for the Australian Test Team of the Century, and now seems a good time to mark his huge contribution to cricket, and to the club," Mr Laird said.
Mr Laird was confident that the idea would be sanctioned by the club board on January 19. It will then need approval from the Melbourne Cricket Club, Parks Victoria, and the City of Port Phillip.
Mr Laird said the official name change would also be fitting, as Junction Oval is not actually the correct name of the ground.
"Junction Oval is the geographic name, but really the right name is the St Kilda Cricket Club Ground," he said.
"It's a big leap to rename such a historical ground, but I think it's very fitting."
Mr Laird said that Warne had not been made aware of the plans, but he looked forward to notifying him after the board had approved the plan.
Warne started playing in 1987 for the St Kilda Cricket Club's fourth XI, and made his first-class cricket debut at the Junction Oval, playing for Victoria in 1991.
Mary Bolling
Herald Sun
