Albert Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Club has held the lease for the venue, originally known as the Warehouseman's Ground, since 1890. It has been the primary home venue for its cricket team in the Victorian District/Premier Cricket competition since that time. The venue has never hosted a first-class cricket match; in 2003, it was to have hosted its first List A match, a tour match between Australia A and South Africa A, but the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. Top level women's cricket has been played on the ground. One women's Test match was played at the ground between Australia and New Zealand in January 1979, and the Rose Bowl series of Women's One Day International matches in 1988–89, 1990–91, and on three occasions in 1999–2000. The venue has one pavilion, the Clive Fairbairn Pavilion, named after MCC player, administrator and life member Clive Fairbairn. ==Tennis==

In 1905, the tennis courts at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground were the venue of the first Australasian Tennis Championship, the tournament which later became the Australian Open. Lawn tennis at that time was administered in Victoria by the Melbourne Cricket Club. Rodney Heath defeated fellow Australian Arthur Curtis in four sets to claim the inaugural title. The venue hosted the Australasian Championships under the auspices of the MCC, and later the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria, a total of four times: in 1905, 1911, 1914 and 1924, as well as the 1908 and 1912 Davis Cup finals, after which Kooyong became the primary venue for lawn tennis in Melbourne. A set of public tennis courts remains available at Albert Reserve to the north of the cricket ground. ==Other sports==

The Melbourne Cricket Club lacrosse team has its training and playing base at the Albert Cricket Ground; the club's baseball team also used the venue until 1976. The ground is not used for football today. In the early years of cycling in Victoria the ground was used to host races. On 24 May 1880 it was the scene of the first 25 Miles race of the Melbourne Bicycle Club on the occasion of Queen Victoria's birthday celebrations. ==Notes==