Georges River Council mayor Kevin Greene has hailed the new $6 million Norm O'Neill Cricket Training Facility at Penshurst as "world class."
The cricket centre makes up stage one of council's master plan for Penshurst Park, which will see the site transformed into a regional sporting hub.
The facility, named after Cricket Australia Hall of Fame member O'Neill, will cater for a range of players from club to community cricketers as well as school groups through to elite male and female players.
Mr Greene was joined by representatives from Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW for the official opening on Friday.
The facility, which includes six indoor synthetic wickets and six outdoor turf wickets, is the first metropolitan cricket and community centre constructed in Sydney in partnership between local government, Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.
Council allocated $5.5 million towards the project, with an additional $400,000 in funding coming from Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.
Mr Greene said the centre would offer great community benefits.
"I am delighted to open a world class cricket training facility in Penshurst today which will foster community participation in cricket and inspire a new generation of players," he said.
"The centre is named in honour of Norm O'Neill, OAM, a cricketing legend who grew up locally in Kogarah. Bringing a centre of such a high professional standard to the Georges River area will encourage and support others passionate about the sport.
"The facility... forms an integral part of what will become a premium centre for sport."
Stage two of works will include the development of a synthetic field, grandstand, youth facility and additional open space elements, with the expansion of Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre making up stage three.
Cricket NSW chief operating officer Michael Dalton also welcomed the opening.
"This cricket centre will allow local boys and girls to train alongside their heroes from the NSW Blues and Breakers and the Sydney Sixers, inspiring the next generation of exciting young players," he said.
"Congratulations to Georges River Council for investing in a facility for all ages which will support local participation and help produce the stars of the future."
O'Neill played 42 Tests for Australia between 1958 and 1965 and 70 first class matches for NSW.
O'Neill was born at Carlton in 1937 and attended Bexley Primary School and Kogarah Intermediate High School.
He made his grade cricket debut for St George in 1952 at the age of 16 before making his state debut two years later.
O'Neill scored 5,419 First Class runs at an average of 52.91 for NSW including 18 centuries. He also took 41 wickets with his leg-spin.
O'Neill made 2,779 runs for Australia at 45.55, including six centuries. The highlight being his 181 against the West Indies in the famous 'Tied Test' in 1960. He also took 17 Test wickets with the ball.
Following his retirement from Test cricket, O'Neill became the newly-formed Sutherland District Cricket Club's inaugural first grade captain.
O'Neill died in 2008 aged 71 and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne last year.
