Aussie governor: Knock down Lord’s!

THE state governor of Victoria has suggested to the MCC that they knock down Lord’s and build a multi- sport super stadium akin to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in its place.

This astonishing suggestion was made by governor Linda Dessau to MCC chairman Gerald Corbett during the fourth Test.

Corbett, who has just won a battle against property development at the Nursery End by an overwhelming members’ vote, was advised to take an even more revolutionary route to safeguard Lord’s long-term future.

Dessau, appointed by the Queen, thinks the MCC should sell the whole of the Nursery ground for housing and combine with a Premier League football club in building a new stadium fit for both sports complete with drop-in pitches — after demolishing the most famous cricket ground in the world.

The likelihood of MCC members supporting the Victoria governor’s proposal are zero. But property developer Charles Rifkind (right), whose £150million offer for Lord’s flats was rejected by a massive majority, is not going away in a hurry, as MCC hoped.

He claims he will be unveiling a Plan B next spring and compares his stand-off with the MCC to a five-Test series level at 1-1, with Rifkind having lost the last session on day three with all still to play for.

And to antagonise the MCC further, Rifkind is in Australia for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests and is even staying at the same Melbourne Hotel as the official MCC supporters’ group. By chance the property tycoon met former MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw on an internal flight in Australia. Cricket South Australia CEO Bradshaw, responsible for the stunning rebuilding of the Adelaide Oval, shared Rifkind’s vision for Lord’s.