About | Details |
|---|---|
Also known as | MCG, “The G” |
Capacity | 100000 |
End Names | Members End, Great Southern Stand End |
Flood Lights | Yes |
Home Teams | Australia National Team and Victoria Cricket Team |
Pitch | Natural Turf |
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, also known as the MCG and 'the G', was built in 1953, making it one of the oldest and premium venues for cricket. The stadium has the capacity to accommodate over 100,000 spectators, making it one of the largest venues in the Southern Hemisphere. The 'G' hosted the inaugural Test in the year 1877, cementing its legacy. It went on to host the 1992 World Cup finals and the 2015 World Cup finals.
The MCG features the iconic Members End and Great Southern End, which are prominent features during the match. The stadium received its floodlight upgrade in 1984, elevating the stadium’s capability to host day/night matches, over time becoming the home of Australian sports, hosting AFL Grand Finals, the 1956 Olympics, and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The traditionally natural turf pitch at the MCG offers extra bounce and pace, favoring bowlers earlier on; however, as the innings progress, the surface settles down rapidly, favoring batters, especially in limited-overs, offering balanced gameplay. Since 1996, the stadium has featured only drop‑in pitches to convert the ground for other major events like the AFL and NFL. But the conditions remain the same, offering balanced gameplay across the formats.
Melbourne Cricket Ground Test Records and Stats
The stadium has hosted a total of record number of 119 Test matches. The highest total in this stadium was recorded by Australia, scoring a record total of 624/8 runs against Pakistan in 2002. Meanwhile, the host Australia bowled out South Africa for just 36 runs, which is the lowest recorded test score at this venue
Sir Don Bradman holds the record for scoring the most runs at this venue, with 1671 runs in just 11 Test matches, while the highest individual record score of 270 runs is also held by Don Bradman against England during the 1936-37 Ashes series.
In the bowling department, legendary pacer Dennis Lillie has the most wickets in this venue with 82 wickets in 14 matches, while Sarfraz Nawaz, a fast bowler from Pakistan, holds the best individual bowling with outstanding figures of 9 wickets for 89 runs against Australia at this venue.
Melbourne Cricket Ground ODI Records and Stats
The stadium has hosted a total of 161 one-day international matches. The highest ODI total at this ground was set by Australia - 355/5 against England in 2022. Meanwhile, the host Australia bowled out England for just 94 runs at this ground, which is the lowest recorded ODI total.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Pointing holds the record for scoring the most runs at this venue in ODIs, with 2108 runs in 41 matches. The highest individual score in an ODI was recorded by Mark Waugh, who scored 173 runs against the West Indies at this venue.
Australia’s legendary spinner Shane Warne has taken the most wickets here with 46 dismissals in 28 matches, while Mitchell Starc has the best individual figures of 6 wickets for 43 runs against India at this venue.
Melbourne Cricket Ground T20I Records and Stats
MCG has hosted around 27 T20I matches, witnessing several nail-biting thrillers and high-scoring encounters over the years. The highest T20I total at the venue was set by India, who scored 186/5 against Zimbabwe during the T20I World Cup in 2022, while the lowest total in this format was also recorded by India, getting bowled out for 74 by Australia at this ground during the bilateral series in 2008.
The most runs at this stadium were scored by former Australian skipper Aaron Finch, who recorded 334 runs in 12 matches, while the highest individual score of 89 runs was scored by David Warner, against South Africa on his debut T20I at this venue.
Australian seamer Kane Richardson has taken the most wickets here with 9 dismissals in 4 matches, while the best individual figures at this ground of 4 wickets for 30 runs is held by the Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood.
How to Reach Melbourne Cricket Ground?
Melbourne Cricket Ground Location
The stadium is easily accessible:
📍Location: Brunton Avenue, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
✈ Nearest Airport: Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) – approx. 25 km
🚆 Nearest Railway Station: Richmond Station – 500 meters
🚌 Nearest Tram Stops: Jolimont-MCG (Route 48/75), or Wellington Parade (Route 70)
