R 2000 Preserving history the Aussie way

A stark contrast between Australia and India is the remarkable passion of the former to recognise and preserve history. And when it comes to cricket, it goes way beyond respecting former cricketers.

A stark contrast between Australia and India is the remarkable passion of the former to recognise and preserve history. And when it comes to cricket, it goes way beyond respecting former cricketers. A major example here is the Allan Border Field, formerly known as the Neumann Oval.

HT Image

As you approach the entrance, to your right you can see 12 palm trees. Step closer and you see a plaque titled "Shield Champions Grove".

Of the three sides that explain what the Grove is all about, one has the scoreboard of the 1994-95 Sheffield Shield championship final, another describes the significance of that win while a third explains the plaque as: "This grove of the Foxtail Palm trees was planted to honour the achievement of the 12 players in Queensland's first Sheffield Shield championship team. The Foxtail Palm is native to Queensland and was chosen as a lasting tribute to the team's historic victory."

Each tree has been named after a member of the Queensland squad of 12 that helped win the maiden Shield title after "69 years of agonising wait". No wonder then that despite being the 12th man for the match, Michael Kasprowicz is filled with pride when he sees the Grove. "We at the Queensland waited and waited for our first domestic title. And once we won it for the first time, with all the legends in the side, we just kept on winning," says Kasprowicz.