Crash: It’s time for Gabba to name stands after sporting legends

THE new Perth Stadium already has a stand named after Aussie Test great Justin Langer. Crash Craddock says it’s both abnormal and unsatisfactory that the Gabba has no named grandstand to honour Queensland’s sporting legends.

THE Jeff Thomson Stand … how does that sound?

Or what about the Ian Healy, Allan Border or Greg Chappell Stand?

Or maybe the Simon Black or Michael Voss Stand?

Pick the legend you like most but it’s time to address the abnormal and unsatisfactory situation where the famous Gabba has no named grandstand.

Australian coach Justin Langer has been touched to have a stand named after him at Perth’s new Optus Stadium and it is well deserved.

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Australian coach and cricket legend Justin Langer in front of the stand named after him at the new Perth oval. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

No West Australian has played more than Langer’s 105 Tests and, for all of his quirky dressing room slogans, Langer embodies the spirit of what it means to be an Australian cricketer.

Queensland has plenty of these players too and it’s a shame that at least one of their names is not proudly up in lights on a Gabba stand.

In some ways though it typifies the Gabba, a functional ground but one desperately lacking in charm and character.

The SCG has The O’Reilly Stand, Adelaide has The Chappell Stand and Perth now has the Langer stand.

And the Gabba? It’s got one big stand which circles the ground like a giant cake tin. But in terms of flavour the Gabba is as mouth-watering as a vanilla sponge.

Allan Border has a field named after him, but should he have a stand at the Gabba too? Picture: Leigh Winburn

At Allan Border Field, the venue of the current Sheffield Shield game between Queensland and Western Australia, Queensland Cricket has done a sound job of honouring its legends.

You drive through the Bill Brown Gates down Greg Chappell Drive and pass the Andy Bichel gym, the Ian Healy Room, the Stuart Law and Matt Hayden Stands en route to the Craig McDermott, Carl Rackemann and Peter Burge nets on Ray Lindwall Oval.

Whew!

It’s a decorated cast but one name is missing – the incomparable Thommo, perhaps the greatest character to wear a maroon cap and certainly Australia’s fastest bowler ever.

Thommo is such an outspoken character it appears he may have stepped on too many toes at the time when the naming was done.

It’s hard to think of another logical explanation why he missed out.

Many years ago when he commentated on a Sheffield Shield final at Border Field his fellow commentators noted the absence of Thommo’s name on any net, ground or driveway and hastily erected a sign saying “The Jeff Thomson commentary booth.’’

Does Brisbane’s greatest Aussie Rules player deserve a stand at the Gabba?

Hayden would be a popular choice at the Gabba but he already has a stand at Border Field.

Mitchell Johnson deserves to be in the discussion but the honour somehow seems more appropriate for players who were raised elsewhere and came to Queensland (Chappell, Border or Thomson) than ones who were raised here and left, albeit for the thoroughly genuine reason of wanting to be near his wife’s family in Western Australia.

The case for one of the Brisbane Lions greats is also strong, perhaps premiership captain Voss or the Simon Black who falls into the category of the people who expect least deserve most.

There is a theory that the best people to name a stand after are the people who insist they don’t deserve it and Black would be in that category.

And why stop at grandstands?

The ABC’s Quentin Hull quipped the Adele concert should be recognised with the “Hello Gates.’’

In an era where we have the 1300 Smiles Stadium anything is possible.

Sure, it’s a stunning stadium, but should its stands be named after Queensland sporting greats?

Originally published as Crash: It’s time for Gabba to name stands after sporting legends