Senator FAULKNER (New South Wales) (19:05): At 10:30 am on 3 January this year, the Sydney Cricket Ground celebrated a special milestone. When the Australians took to the field against India at the SCG, it was the 100th test match to be played at that ground. The SCG joined Lords and the Melbourne Cricket Ground as one of the only three grounds in the world to have hosted 100 cricket tests. As I promised last year, I was a face in the crowd for this historic occasion and I can inform the Senate that that 100th test match was a success. It was a success for the spectators who were there, a success for the ground, a success for the SCG staff and the SCG Trust, and it was a success for the Australian cricket team who beat India convincingly by an innings and 68 runs and went on to win the series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A special mention must go to the Australian captain, Michael Clarke, who scored a historic 329 runs not out. It was his fourth test century as captain, his highest test score and also the highest test innings ever scored in an Australia-India test and the highest test innings ever scored at the SCG. On the Indian side, the champion Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was very warmly received by the SCG crowd. Despite his batting average from seven previous innings at the ground being an incredible 221, the Little Master failed to score his 100th century in international cricket at the SCG. This was a disappointment to many, and I would have to admit they included me. This tour may well be the last time we see Sachin play test cricket in Australia, and it also might be the last time we will see those other champion Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. It was not just performances in the middle that made this 100th test a success. The Sydney test has become an important focal point for raising awareness of breast cancer and money to fight it. The third day of the Sydney test, now popularly known as Jane McGrath Day, was a sea of pink shirts, hats, bandanas, clothing and accessories of all kinds, all in aid of the McGrath Foundation. No other ground in the world can boast such a day, with such an important message. The growing success of Jane McGrath Day is a credit, I think, to the McGrath Foundation, to Cricket Australia and to the SCG Trust. Since its inception three years ago, over $2.2 million has been successfully raised at the ground to assist over 10,000 Australian families experiencing breast cancer and to support 68 breast care nurses in communities across Australia. The 100th test at the SCG was commemorated by 12 talented Australian artists tasked with capturing the historic occasion on canvas. The finished works were donated to the 100th test art auction, which itself successfully raised over than $20,000 for the McGrath Foundation. I must say that you do not make it to 100 test matches without showing your age, and the Sydney Cricket Ground is no exception. The SCG Trust used the occasion of the 100th test to announce work to build a state-of-the-art modern pavilion to replace the 78-year-old MA Noble Stand, as well as the Bradman and Dally Messenger stands, and that work is going to begin soon. The $186 million facelift will offer patrons seats closer to the field of play and more seats under cover, and no part of the new structure will obstruct any spectator's view of play. The SCG's new video screen will be twice the size of the existing screen at the ground and the largest at any sporting ground in Australia. The new development will also include improved media facilities, corporate suites, AFL dressing rooms, bars and eateries with views of the Sydney skyline, and secure player entry. The iconic clock tower will be retained and the new modern pavilion's style, I am assured, will complement the historic members and ladies stands. Tonight I want to acknowledge the support of both the New South Wales and federal governments in making funds available for this development. The development is anticipated to lift the capacity of the ground from 45,758 to just below 48,000. It will be finished ahead of the Ashes test match between Australia and England in January 2014. Here is a final word about the SCG from a man considered to be one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket, who has scored more runs and more centuries than any other player in either test cricket or one-day internationals but who will inevitably be disappointed with his two innings of 41 and 80 in the SCG's 100th test match and his 186th test match—that is, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. To finish, I quote him: It's a terrific ground, a special place. I love the atmosphere inside. It's wonderful.