Cricket icons Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar have been honored with gates at the Sydney Cricket Ground. All visiting cricket teams will enter the playing arena through the Lara-Tendulkar gates in the future at the iconic Australian venue, Cricket Australia announced earlier this week.
Lara played 131 Test matches for West Indies and his 400 not out against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score ever in Test history.
“I’m deeply honored to be recognized at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as I’m sure Sachin is. The ground holds many special memories for me and my family,” Lara said in a statement.
His daughter was named Sydney following his maiden Test century. Lara’s 277 at the SCG in 1993, his fifth Test was the first of his 34 Test centuries. The left-hander averaged of 54.85 in four Tests at the SCG.
The gates were unveiled on 24 April to mark Tendulkar’s 50th birthday. Tendulkar averaged 157 in the five Test matches he played at the SCG and said it’s his favorite ground outside of India.
“I have had some great memories at the SCG right from my first tour of Australia in 1991-92. It is a great honor to have the gates … named after me and my good friend Brian,” Tendulkar said in a statement.
Tendulkar played 200 Tests, scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, including three of his 51 centuries at the SCG.