For the first time in decades, I am no longer an SCG member for the Sydney Test.

As a 10-year-old, I was fascinated by cricket. I was a solidly ordinary YMCA player, and bought the ABC Cricket Book for every Test series. (Did you know David Colley played baseball as well as cricket, and Doug Walters hit a six out of the SCG No.2 into Kippax Lake?)

Dad brought me back a transistor radio – in a leather case – from Hong Kong, and I listened to the 1972 Ashes broadcast from the UK, tucked up in bed at night. I may have even slept one night with new batting pads on, such was my fascination with the game.

Keith Stackpole reached 50 in every Test in those Ashes, finally getting the century he deserved. Ross Edwards joined Stacky as opener. Edwards got 170 not out, followed famously by a pair (two scores of zero). I knew all the stats.

In those days cricketers had “proper” jobs; I saw Doug Walters working in shopping centres. Walters was a favourite of mine; laconic, unassuming and, like dashing all-rounder Keith Miller, had seen active service. Walters didn’t take himself too seriously playing cricket. At times glorious to watch batting, he was a natural infielder and useful bowler, but rarely performed at his best in England.

At 34, I returned to Australia from a long stint abroad. I was determined to become an SCG member, sit in those beautiful green-topped stands and see players, prime ministers and premiers close up. This coincided with the SCG Trust, I suspect, realising that in the absence of photo membership cards, some members never died – although their offspring represented them in the stands.

An amnesty of sorts was declared, and members could transfer membership to a relative. Dad was a getting on and I proposed he transfer his membership to me; I could pay for it, and take him as often as he wanted.

These were happy times. I would get on my bike and join the other cricket tragics at 5am, waiting in a friendly queue until the “Paddington Gift” started at member gates at 7 o’clock. Without jostling, young and old would run from the Moore Park and Driver Avenue entrances, show their cards, pick up seat stickers and grab their seats. The best are in the shade at the Members; in the Ladies Stand for those further down the queue. Members arriving later found themselves in the M.A. Noble Stand, or standing in the various bars around the members’ concourse. Yes, the MCG is Australia’s Coliseum, but the grassy verges and shaded tables of the SCG Members are the best places to mingle between sessions of Test cricket.