The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia.

The MCC is responsible for management and development of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a power given to it by the government-appointed MCG Trust and an Act of Parliament. This also guarantees the club's occupation of about 20 per cent of the stadium for its Members Reserve.

In 1859, the MCC was involved in the drafting of the first set of rules for Australian rules football, and in 1877 hosted the first game of Test cricket in history - played between Australia and England. In 1971, the ground hosted the first One Day International cricket match.

As well as cricket, the MCC is also an umbrella organisation for other sports - golf, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, lawn bowls, real tennis, shooting, field hockey, and squash.

Membership

The Melbourne Cricket Club is the largest sporting club in Australia. There are approximately 99,932 members of the club, of which there are 60,550 full members, and 39,382 "restricted" members. The waiting list dates back to 1 October 1994 and currently has in excess of 184,000 nominees.

Full membership entitles members to entry to the Members' Reserve at the MCG for all cricket and football matches and most special sporting events.

Full members also enjoy a range of value-added benefits, which include reciprocal rights at clubs/stadiums around Australia and overseas as well as the opportunity to attend numerous club functions exclusive to MCC members. Restricted members also have access to events, with the exception of the AFL Grand Final. Full members, but not restricted members, are also permitted to nominate candidates for the waiting list, and to vote on club affairs.

Reciprocal Clubs

Members of the MCC are able to access the Members' Area of reciprocal clubs; typically whilst on a short visit to the area. These benefits; with the exclusion of the VRC and Telstra Dome; are reserved for Full Members. These clubs include:

Telstra Dome Axcess One, MelbourneVictoria Racing Club (VRC), MelbourneSydney Cricket Ground, SydneyBrisbane Cricket Ground Trust , BrisbaneSouth Australian Cricket Association , AdelaideWest Australian Cricket Association , PerthTasmanian Cricket Association (Bellerive Oval), Hobart

And other overseas grounds including the Singapore and Hong Kong Cricket Clubs; the Cricket Club of India; and the Maryleborne Cricket Club (Lord's.)

Cricket "Team of the Century"

On December 1, 1999, the MCC announced its cricket team of the century, with all players who had played at least one season for the club since 1906-07 being eligible for selection. The team as selected was:

1. Bill Ponsford
2. Colin McDonald
3. Dean Jones
4. Hunter Hendry
5. Paul Sheahan
6. Warwick Armstrong (Captain)
7. Hugh Trumble
8. Robert Templeton
9. Max Walker
10. Hans Ebeling
11. Bert Ironmonger
12. Vernon Ransford (12th Man)

All members of the team of the century but Robert Templeton had played at least one Test match for the Australian cricket team.

Notes

External links

• Melbourne Cricket Club official site