Australia is playing their fourth Ashes of the 2025-26 series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While Australia has already retained the series, England will fight to save themselves from a shameful whitewash on the Australian soil. Melbourne Cricket Ground holds rich heritage, from being the one that hosted the first match in each cricket format to continuing to be an all-format ground. Recently CA is planning to host a one-off Test match between England and Australia, marking the 150th anniversary of Test cricket, at the MCG. The creation of Melbourne Cricket Ground Old Melbourne Cricket Ground before stands were installed; Photo collected The Melbourne Cricket Club, founded in 1853 did not have specific space for their cricket practices. Sometimes, they used to play at the Old Mint site, and sometimes even on the flood-prone south bank of the Yarra river. Once the club had to change its base, as the Victorian government planned the route of the country's first steam railway line. MCC was a nomad until Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe, in 1853, offered the MCC a ten-acre (about 4 hectares) section of the Government Paddock in Richmond (now Yarra Park). The site was earlier a Wurundjeri camping ground and police horse paddock. The field, however, had sufficient slope for drainage- the main reason MCC gave a nod to it. The first stands MCG with reversible stands, Photo Credits: Herald Sun The first wooden Members' Pavilion was built in 1854, and the first match at the new ground was played in September 1853. However, the first stand was erected in 1861. And later came the architectural beauty of MCG- the reversible stand. MSG had a football stadium adjacent to the cricket stadium. The purpose of the reversible stand was to accommodate crowds for both cricket and football as and when needed. A new, more substantial brick pavilion for members replaced the original in 1881. The Reversible Stand was replaced by the larger Grandstand after a fire in 1884. Historical significance—the first home to cricket formats Melbourne Cricket Ground has literally been the birthplace of cricket formats. It hosted the first-ever Test match between Australia and England in March, 1877, cementing its place in cricket history. Australia, represented by a Combined New South Wales and Victoria XI, faced England in a timeless match where Charles Bannerman scored the first Test century, making 165 before retiring hurt. Australia won by 45 runs, a result later repeated in the Centenary Test at the same ground. A century later in 1971, it staged the world’s first One-Day International (ODI) match, on January 5. After rain washed out the opening days of a scheduled Test between Australia and England, a one-innings match of 40 eight-ball overs per side was arranged. Australia won by five wickets in front of more than 46,000 spectators. The first men’s T20 International was played later, on February 17, 2005, at Eden Park in Auckland between New Zealand and Australia. Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten 98 helped Australia secure a 44-run win, marking the successful introduction of the shortest format. Aside from cricket, the MCG was pivotal in the early development of Australian Rules Football: Tom Wills and others from the MCC devised rules in the late 1850s, and the game was played at the ground soon after. It has been the traditional home of the Victorian Football League (VFL)/Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final almost every year since the early 1900s. Beyond domestic sport, the ‘G served as the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games, the first Olympics held in the Southern Hemisphere, and later hosted athletics during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Wartime hero in WW II The Gate 2 plaques at the MCG tells the story of the field that was way beyond cricket and other sports. During World War II, the Melbourne Cricket Ground quietly transformed from a sporting cathedral into a lifeline for Allied forces. Requisitioned by the Australian government between 1942 and 1945, the vast oval became a temporary home for more than 200,000 servicemen. Known fondly as Camp Murphy (under the name of the Colonel William Murphy), the ground housed units of the US Army Air Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, and later the United States Marine Corps. In 1943, battle-hardened soldiers of the legendary 1st Marine Division arrived after the brutal Guadalcanal campaign, using the open space to rest, recover, and regain strength. Amid barracks and drills, the MCG echoed with softball games, gridiron matches, and shared gatherings that strengthened bonds between Australian and American troops. The Marines even adopted Waltzing Matilda as their battle hymn, carrying Australia’s spirit with them. Returned to the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1945, the ground still remembers its wartime duty. Controversies in MCG A ground in Australia without controversies seems unfit. From the recent practice pitch issue in 2025 Border Gavaskar Trophy, to sunil Gavaskar walking out over an umpiring dispute, MCG tackled it, including one of the most unruly crowds. In a 1999 ODI, the legendary Shane Watson literally had to wear a helmet while fielding on the boundary while protecting himself from the unruly crowd throwing missiles at him. In 1981, in an ODI against New Zealand, Aussie captain Gregg Chappel asked his brother Ian Chappel to bowl underarm. Even though it wasn't illegal at that time, it was cowardice, following the immediate ban of underarm bowling in limited-overs cricket. 1981 underarm bowling; Picture: Collected The Sunil Gavaskar incident During a 1981 Test match, Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar almost caused a forfeit. After being given out LBW to Dennis Lillee—a decision he felt was wrong because he had nicked the ball—Gavaskar was reportedly further incensed by a "get lost" remark from an Australian player. Gavaskar even ordered his batting partner, Chetan Chauhan, to walk off the field with him. The Indian team manager intervened at the boundary rope, persuading Chauhan to stay and finish the match. India eventually won the game by 59 runs. The Muralitharan partiality In the 1995 Boxing Day Test, umpire Darren Hair, from the bowling end, allegedly called out no balls seven times in three overs to the Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. This happened when the umpire for the other end stood oblivious of it. This ignited a global debate on bowling legality and the "chucking" law, leading to intensive scientific testing by the ICC. Read also: Stadium Tales Present Eden Garden: The aged senior, shaped by a century of heritage, upheavals, and reinvention Future prospects of MCG The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), in partnership with the Victorian government, is preparing a business case for an estimated A$2 billion redevelopment of the Shane Warne Stand, formerly known as the Great Southern Stand. Last upgraded in 1992, the stand is the oldest at the venue. Construction is not expected to begin before 2030 and is projected to take two to three years, with work carried out in stages to limit disruption. The redevelopment aims to increase the MCG’s capacity by around 5,000 seats, taking the total to approximately 105,000, placing it among the world’s largest stadiums. Plans include upgraded seating, public amenities, improved roof lighting, new hospitality spaces such as bars and restaurants, a glass exterior overlooking Yarra Park, and the possibility of a hotel behind the stand. Beyond infrastructure, the MCG is focused on sustainability. The MCC has achieved Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification, uses 100% renewable electricity, recycles about 80% of waste, and has reduced potable water use through wastewater treatment. The venue is also set to host major events, including the 150th anniversary Test in 2027 and a regular-season NFL game in 2026.