With the stands packed and tickets as rare as hen’s teeth, any invitation to a box or suite for the opening day of the New Year’s Test is gratefully accepted by the high-flyers of the business, political and sporting worlds.
The big three in the SCG hospitality world, in order, are the Sheridan Suite, hosted by Venues NSW (formerly the SCG Trust), the Arthur Morris Room hosted by Cricket Australia and the Steve Waugh Room hosted by Cricket NSW.
The Sheridan Suite was literally a who’s who of Australia. Former Prime Minister John Howard is a fixture there each year and he happily sat giving an interview to whoever asked, one of whom was Canberra journalistic heavy Chris Uhlman.
Steve Waugh, centre, and in the upper-right corner, Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons.Credit: Neil Breen
While Howard later gave his thoughts on England’s batting line-up to Fox Cricket, nearby sat the eminently more qualified Steve Waugh, snubbing the suite named in his honour over in the Victor Trumper Stand.
Seats were so scarce that at one stage broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson sat on author journalist husband Peter Fitzsimons’ lap.
Fitzy’s current boss Matt Stanton, CEO of Nine Entertainment Company, which owns The Sydney Morning Herald was there with son Freddie. That’s despite Nine giving up on cricket in favour of tennis as it’s summer sport year’s ago.
Also representing Nine was boss of broadcasting Amanda Laing.
Current cricket broadcaster Seven was represented by Ryan Stokes and wife Claire as well as much-loved Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta, who has bowed out of the show after 22 years.
Venues NSW Chairman David Gallop was there with wife Kathy. Former NSW premier Mike Baird, the current chair of Cricket Australia was accompanied by dad Bruce and CA CEO Todd Greenberg and son Cooper.
Venues NSW Director and top NRL broadcaster Yvonne O’Keefe brought husband Chris O’Keefe along as a handbag, resplendent in a checked suit. A multiple award-winning journalist, Chris these days is a corporate heavy, heading his own advisory business Emerald House Advocacy.
Other notables were Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley, former Governor General Peter Cosgrove, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather with two of her new directors publisher Edwina McCann and league great Ian Roberts, corporate heavy Tony Shepherd, ABC chair Kim Williams and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh.
Over the other side of the stadium the first responders who were honoured before play were special guests in the CA suite, including hero civilian Ahmed el Ahmed.
They were entertained in the lunch break by Pink Test spearhead Glenn McGrath. The box was hosted through the day by journalist and presenter Julie Snook who has become a favourite of CA for corporate engagements.
Tomorrow, the lunch break special guest will be England great Stuart Broad. Baird and Greenberg will be back at the CA Suite as will Australian Olympic Committee boss Mark Arbib, the former Rudd Government powerbroker and sports minister.
Cricket NSW Chair John Knox, partner and head of private equity firm Ares Credit Group in Australia and New Zealand, had former players Peter “Who” Taylor, David Gilbert (now an international match referee) and Ed Cowan in attendance as well as a string of politicians and business heavies including Finance Minister Courtney Houssos, Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen, Karen Jones the CEO of Destination NSW and former opposition leader Mark Speakman.