The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of the oldest sport stadiums located in the Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1948, the Sydney Cricket Ground is owned and operated by Venues NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The SCG has a seating capacity of 48,000.

It is the home ground of the Australia cricket team, New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Sixers of the Big Bash League. 

The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between arch-rivals Australia and England in February 1882. The Billy Murdoch-led Australia won the Ashes Test by five wickets.

Since then, it has staged more than 110 Tests so far. With that being said, let’s have a look at the Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats.

Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats

Highest total

The India cricket team registered the highest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the fourth Test of India’s tour of Australia in January 2004, the Sourav Ganguly-led visitors posted a mammoth total of 705/7d after opting to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 241, VVS Laxman’s 178 along with contributions from Virender Sehwag (72), Parthiv Patel (62), Aakash Chopra (45) and Rahul Dravid (38) helped India post the highest Test total at the venue. India later bowled out Australia for 474 and then declared their second innings at 211/2. Chasing 443, Australia were 357/6 in the fourth innings as the match later ended in a draw.

Lowest total

The Australia cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888, the hosts were bundled out for 42 in their first innings after England scored 113. Tom Garrett top-scored for Australia with 10. For England, left-arm spinner Bobby Peel bagged six wickets while right-arm pacer George Lohmann picked up five wickets. England later managed 137 in their second innings. Australia were later bowled out for 82 while chasing 209 as England won the Sydney Test by 126 runs.

Most runs

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Sydney. Between 1996 and 2012, Ricky Ponting amassed 1,480 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 67.27. The former right-handed batter slammed six centuries and as many fifties at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Australia cricket legend Allan Border features second on the list with 1,177 runs in 17 matches at an average of 56.04. 

Most wickets

Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne bagged the most wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner claimed 64 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of 28.12 between 1992 and 2007. Warne recorded four four-wicket hauls and four fifers at this venue in Sydney in Test cricket. His former teammate Stuart MacGill is second on the list with 53 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 24.47.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at No. 5, Michael Clarke slammed an unbeaten 329 against India in their first innings of the second Test in Sydney in January 2012. Michael Clarke’s magnificent triple century was laced with 39 fours and one six to help Australia post 659/4d after India were skittled out for 191 in their first innings. India were bowled out for 400 in their second innings as Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 68 runs.

Best bowling figures in an innings

England pacer George Lohmann registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in February 1887. The former right-arm medium fast recorded match-winning figures of 8/35 to help England bowl out Australia for 84 in their first innings of the second Test at the iconic SCG. George Lohmann dismissed John Lyons, Walter Giffen, Reginald Allen, captain Percy McDonnell, Billy Midwinter, John Cottam , Tom Garrett and J.J. Ferris. Lohmann’s magnificent spell helped England register a 71-run victory in Sydney.

Best bowling figures in a match

Former Australia cricketer Charlie Turner holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Charlie Turner took 12 wickets during the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888. While Turner picked up five wickets for 44 runs in the first innings, the right-arm pacer claimed seven wickets for 43 runs in the second innings. Turner’s incredible bowling performance went in vain as England won the Test by 126 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Australia cricketers Don Bradman and Sid Barnes recorded the highest partnership at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the second Test of England’s tour of Australia in December 1946, Don Bradman and Sid Barnes stitched an incredible 405-run stand for the fifth wicket to power Australia to 659/8d in their first innings. Opening the innings, Sid Barnes scored 234 while Don Bradman slammed 234 batting at No.6. Under the leadership of Bradman, Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 33 runs

Photo credit: Imago

The Gabba is one of the oldest cricket grounds located in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia.

Established in 1895, The Gabba is owned by the Queensland Government and has a seating capacity of around 37,000.

Also known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, The Gabba serves as the home ground of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Bash League (WBBL) and also for the Queensland Bulls in domestic cricket.

Apart from cricket, The Gabba is known to be a multi-speciality stadium which has staged athletics, rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football, Association football, cycling, baseball, pony, greyhound racing and concerts.

The Gabba hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between Australia and South Africa in December 1931. Under the leadership of Bill Woodfull, Australia won the Test by an innings and 163 runs.

It later staged its first One-Day International (ODI) that featured England and West Indies in December 1979. 

The Gabba hosted its first-ever T20 international played between hosts Australia and South Africa in January 2006. 

Overall, it has staged 68 Tests, 80 ODIs and 11 T20Is so far. With that being said, let’s have a look at The Gabba Test records and stats.

The Gabba Test records and stats

Highest total

The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest total at The Gabba in Test cricket. During the first Test of England’s tour of Australia in 1946, the Donald Bradman-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 645 in their first innings after electing to bat. Captain Donald Bradman (187), Lindsay Hassett (128) and Colin McCool (95) helped Australia record the Test total at the venue. Australia later bowled out England for 141 and 172 in their two innings to win the Brisbane Test by an innings and 332 runs.

Lowest total

The India cricket team recorded the lowest total at The Gabba in Test cricket. India were bundled out for 58 in their first innings after Australia posted 382/8d in Brisbane in 1947. Captain Lala Amarnath top-scored for India(22) while Chandu Sarwate (12) was the other batter to reach double digits. For Australia, left-arm medium Ernie Toshack was the wrecker-in-chief with bowling figures of 5/2. After Australia enforced follow-on, India were bowled out for 98 in their second innings as the hosts won the first Test by an innings and 226 runs. Under the leadership of Donald Bradman, Australia won the five-match Test series 4-0.

Most runs

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Brisbane. Between 1996 and 2012, Ricky Ponting amassed 1,335 runs in 17 Test matches at an average of 63.57. The right-handed batter  slammed four centuries and 10 fifties at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke features second on the list with 1,030 runs in just 10 matches at a staggering average of 103 with five hundreds and two half-centuries to his name.

Most wickets

Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne bagged the most wickets at The Gabba in Test cricket. The former right-arm leg-spinner scalped 68 wickets in just 11 matches at an average of 20.30 between 1993 and 2006. He claimed seven four-wicket hauls and three fifers at this venue in Brisbane in Test cricket. Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath is second on the list with 65 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 21.75.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke holds the record for the highest individual score at The Gabba in Tests. Batting at number 5, Michael Clarke slammed an unbeaten 259 against South Africa in their first innings of the first Test in Brisbane in November 2012. Michael Clarke’s magnificent double century was laced with 26 fours to help Australia post 565/5d after they bowled out South Africa for 450. South Africa scored 166/5 in their second innings as the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Legendary New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in November 1985. Richard Hadlee recorded match-winning figures of 9/52 to help New Zealand bowl out Australia for 179 in their first innings. The former right-arm pacer dismissed Kepler Wessels, Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border, Greg Ritchie, Wayne Phillips, Greg Matthews, Craig McDermott and Bob Holland. New Zealand won the Brisbane Test by an innings and 41 runs. Led by Jeremy Coney, New Zealand later clinched the three-match Test series 2-1. 

Best bowling figures in a match

Richard Hadlee also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at The Gabba in Test cricket. Richard Hadlee took 15 wickets during the first Test of New Zealand’s tour of Australia in 1985. While Hadlee picked up nine wickets for 52 runs in the first innings, the right-arm fast bowler claimed six wickets for 71 runs in the second innings. Hadlee’s incredible bowling performance helped New Zealand win the Test by an innings and 41 runs.

Highest partnership

Former England cricketers Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott recorded the highest partnership at The Gabba in Test cricket. During the first Test of England’s tour of Australia in November 2010, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott forged an unbeaten 329-run stand for the second wicket to power England to 517/1d in their second innings. Opening batter Alastair Cook slammed 235 not out while Jonathan Trott remained unbeaten on 135. The Brisbane Test later ended in a dull draw.

Photo credit: Imago

The India vs Australia cricket rivalry is one of the most intense rivalries in the sport.

The two teams first met in 1947 when India toured Australia for a five-match Test series. The hosts won the series 4-0. Since then, both countries have engaged in several Test, ODI and T20I matches. 

India and Australia have locked horns on 290 occasions at the international level to date with Australia having a better head-to-head record over India in Tests and ODIs. 

However, India holds a better head-to-head record against Australia in T20 international cricket history.

With that being said, let’s have a look at India vs Australia head-to-head in cricket.

India vs Australia head-to-head in cricket

Format	Matches	India won	Australia won	Draw/Tie/NR
Test	107	32	45	30
ODI	151	57	84	10
T20I	32	20	11	1
Total	290	109	140	41

India vs Australia in World Cups

Tournament	Matches	India won	Australia won	Draw/Tie/NR
50-over World Cup	14	5	9	0
T20 World Cup	6	4	2	0
Total	19	8	11	0

India vs Australia cricket records and stats

India vs Australia in Tests

Highest team total in a Test innings: India scored 705/7d against Australia in the fourth Test in Sydney in 2003/04. 

Lowest team total in a Test innings: Australia bowled India out for 36 in the first Test in Adelaide in 2020/21.

Highest individual score in Tests: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke scored 329 not out against India in the second Test at Sydney Cricket Ground in 2012. 

Best bowling figures in Tests: India’s Harbhajan Singh picked up 15/217 against Australia in the third Test at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 2001. 

India vs Australia in ODIs 

Highest team total in ODIs: India posted 399/5 against Australia in the second ODI in  Indore in 2023. 

Lowest team total in ODIs: Australia bowled India out for 63 in a Benson & Hedges World Series Cup clash in Sydney in 1981.

Highest individual score in ODIs: India opener Rohit Sharma scored 209 against Australia in the seventh ODI at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2013. 

Best bowling figures in ODIs: India’s Murali Kartik picked up 6/27 against Australia in the seventh ODI of Australia’s tour of India at Wankhede in 2007. 

India vs Australia in T20Is

Highest team total in T20Is: India scored 235/4 against Australia in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram in 2023. 

Lowest team total in T20Is: Australia bowled India out for 74 in the only T20I at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2008. 

Highest individual score in T20Is: Australia opener Shane Watson's unbeaten 124 is the highest individual score registered in this fixture in the third and final T20I in Sydney.

Best bowling figures in T20Is: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 4/11 against Australia in a Group 2 match of the 2014 T20 World Cup at Mirpur.

Photo credit: Alamy

West Indies great Brian Lara’s unbeaten knock of 400 against England in 2004 is the highest individual Test score. The top-order player batted for nearly 13 hours as he became the first cricketer ever to score 400-plus runs in an international Test.

With Windies electing to bat first against a Michael Vaughan-led England, Lara came into bat at number three  after Daren Ganga was dismissed for 10 runs. And the rest is history.

Brian Lara smashed 43 boundaries and four sixes in his historic knock as West Indies registered a first innings score of 751/5d in their 2004 Test. The team total ended up being one of Windies�?highest Test scores.

However, this wasn’t the first time Lara scored the highest individual Test score. In 1994, the Windies legend hit 375 runs against England at Antigua and broke a 36-year record set by Garfield Sobers in 1958.

The second player on this list is Matthew Hayden. The Australian opener broke Brian Lara’s nine-year record for the highest individual Test score with his knock of 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. Put to bat first, hosts Australia rode on Hayden’s first and only triple hundred to pile on a match-winning total of 735/6d.

Fourth on the list, Mahela Jayawardene registered the highest individual Test score by a Sri Lankan cricketer when he hammered 374 runs against South Africa in a 2006 Colombo Test. By doing so, Jayawardene became just the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya (340 vs India, Colombo, 1997) to score a triple century.

Sir Garry Sobers - fifth on our list - previously held the record for highest individual Test score from 1958 to 1994. Sobers, the first player to hit six sixes in an over, remained unbeaten on 365 against Pakistan in the 1958 Kingston Test. Garry Sobers scored his maiden Test century in the match before going forward to add another 265 runs to his impressive innings.

Among Indian cricketers, Virender Sehwag has the highest individual Test score. The legendary India opener scored 319 runs in the 2008 Chennai Test, which the hosts eventually drew against South Africa. What sets this knock apart from Sehwag’s Test centuries is that the opener reached his triple century in 278 balls - the fastest Test triple century by number of balls faced.

Highest individual Test score

Player	Opponent	Runs	Year
Brian Lara	England	400*	2004
Matthew Hayden	Zimbabwe	380	2003
Brian Lara	England	375	1994
Mahela Jayawardene	South Africa	374	2006
Garfield Sobers	Pakistan	365*	1958
Leonard Hutton	Australia	364	1938
Sanath Jayasuriya	India	340	1997
Hanif Mohammad	West Indies	337	1958
Wally Hammond	New Zealand	336*	1933
David Warner	Pakistan	335*	2019
Mark Taylor	Pakistan	334*	1998
Don Bradman	England	334	1930
Graham Gooch	India	333	1990
Chris Gayle	Sri Lanka	333	2010
Michael Clarke	India	329*	2012
Inzamam-ul-Haq	New Zealand	329	2002
Andy Sandham	West Indies	325	1930
Virender Sehwag	South Africa	319	2008
Kumar Sangakkara	Bangladesh	319	2014
Chris Gayle	South Africa	317	2005

Author: William Paul

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New Zealand top-order batsman Will Young became the latest player to score the most runs off one ball in Test cricket, with seven runs coming off an Ebadot Hossain delivery in the second Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday, January 9.

The incident occurred in the very first over of the first session on Day 1. Young got a healthy edge off Hossain's final delivery that was going straight at first slip, however, the fielder at second slip (Liton Das) dropped a simple catch and let the ball run off towards the third man. In the meantime, the batters - Will Young and Tom Latham - ran three runs but an overthrow from wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan towards the non-strikers' end went for a boundary.

Will Young got a life and 7 runs in a single ball. pic.twitter.com/PArHrm39nx

�?Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 9, 2022

What started out as a missed wicket opportunity ended up being a chaotic start for Bangladesh. However, this is not the first time such an instance has happened in Test cricket.

Andrew Symonds (Australia vs New Zealand, Gabba, 2008) shares the record for most runs off one ball in Test cricket (eight runs) with Patsy Hendren (Australia vs England, Melbourne, 1929) and John Wright (Australia vs New Zealand, Melbourne, 1980).

Apart from New Zealand's Will Young, there have been a few known instances of a batter scoring seven runs off one ball in Test cricket. The first such case can be traced back to 1976 in Headingley, where English wicketkeeper-batsman Alan Knott got seven runs from a delivery by West Indies' Vanburn Holder. Knott initially hit the Holder delivery towards extra-cover for a quick single, but Bernard Julien's overthrow past wicket-keeper Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts' throw that went to the long-off boundary for four more runs added to the three runs Knott and partner Tony Greig ran between the wickets.

Since then, Pakistan's Majid Khan (Australia vs Pakistan, Melbourne, 1981), Michael Clarke (Ashes, Adelaide, 2006), Chris Rogers (Ashes, Sydney, 2014) and Kraigg Brathwaite (South Africa vs West Indies, Newlands, 2015) are the Test batters to score seven runs off one ball in Test cricket.

Most runs off one ball in Test cricket

Runs	Player	Opponent	Year
8	Patsy Hendren	Australia	1929
	John Wright	Australia	1980
	Andrew Symonds	New Zealand	2008
7	Alan Knott	West Indies	1976
	Majid Khan	Australia	1981
	Michael Clarke	England	2006
	Chris Rogers	England	2014
	Kraigg Brathwaite	South Africa	2015
	Will Young	Bangladesh	2022

Author: William Paul

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Former Australia cricket team captain Michael Clarke has opined that fast bowler Pat Cummins should take over the captaincy role of the national side in all formats of the game.

Clarke made the statement after a discussion around the next Australian captain has once again gathered steam following Steve Smith’s desire to reclaim his position as the leader of the Australian side across formats.

Smith was removed as the captain once he confirmed his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018.

Australia immediately appointed Tim Paine as the captain of the Test side while Aaron Finch was made the skipper in the limited-overs. 

"Just because Cummins isn't out there saying I should be the next captain and I'm ready... it doesn't mean he's not a good leader," Clarke told Big Sports Breakfast.

"I've made it clear what I think about Pat Cummins. I think he's shown he's fit and strong enough to play all three formats now, he's done that for the last few years. His captaincy I've watched tactically for New South Wales he's been pretty good," said Australia’s 2015 World Cup-winning captain. 

Clarke further stated that Cummins�?inexperience as a leader should not be viewed as a hindrance and he will have experienced players around him to help him out, including Smith. 

"Yes he's young and inexperienced as a leader but he'll have good senior players around him so to me I do believe Pat Cummins is the right guy to take over the leadership in all three formats at the right time. 

 

“Of course, he will need a good vice-captain. An example of that -- if (current Test captain) Tim Paine retires then someone like Alex Carey comes in, who has captained South Australia, captained (in) the BBL (Big Bash League), been vice-captain of Australia. I think he would make a very good vice-captain. You've got the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne. All these guys have got leadership experience as well. They can help Pat Cummins," he said.

Clarke, who captained Australia in 47 Tests, 74 ODIs and 18 T20Is between 2007 and 2015, said that regardless of whether Smith becomes captain of the team again or not, the talismanic batsman will always have an important role to play in the dressing room. 

"You don't necessarily need to have the captain or vice-captain armband to be a leader and I feel like I say that every single day. Smithy is going to play a huge role in the Australian team moving forward, whether he takes over the captaincy or not, his leadership is going to be important," said Clarke.

"If Pat Cummins gets the job, (Smith) is the first guy I would be going to and speaking to. He's going to need his support. I think Australia does have options, they are in a wonderful place. They've just got to have the confidence to pick the right person, back him, and put some support around him," he added.

Feature image courtesy: Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has opined that Team Delhi’s new recruit Steve Smith might pull out of the Indian T20 League 2021 citing injury after being picked for a low price at the auction.

Smith, who is one of the modern-day greats, was picked for Rs 2.2 crore by the Delhi franchise at Thursday's auction.

What else would you call acquiring @stevesmith49 at INR 220 lakh? #DCFanWithSign #YehHaiNayiDilli #IPLAuction2021 pic.twitter.com/jsma1icHx3

�?Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 18, 2021

The 31-year-old was released by Rajasthan for his below-par performance in the last edition of the Indian T20 League held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and they appointed Sanju Samson as their new skipper. Interestingly, Smith was earlier retained by Rajasthan for Rs 12.5 crore in 2018. However, under his leadership, the team finished at the bottom of the points table in 2020.  

“You talk about Steve Smith �?if he’s not the best batsman in the world, he’s not far away. Virat Kohli is number one, but Smithy is in the top three," Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast Podcast.

"I know his T20 performances haven’t been as good as he would have like �?last year’s IPL he wasn’t great. I’m very surprised he has gone for the amount of money he has, just under $400,000 �?which is still good money.

"But when you look at what he was getting (last season) and his role as captain of Rajasthan, don’t be surprised if there’s a little hamstring strain the day the plane is meant to fly to India.

"For him to go away for an eight-week tournament and quarantine before the tournament starts �?call it 11 weeks. I don’t think he is going to give up 11 weeks away from his family and his partner for $380,000.

"I’m really interested to see if he gets a tight hamstring and doesn’t go. Or if it goes the other and he says I do wan't to go and play in this T20 World Cup and I do want to get picked up for more money in the next IPL. I am going to go there, I don't care for the money and will prove people wrong."

In the last edition of the league, Smith amassed 311 in 14 matches at an average of 25.91, scoring just three half-centuries. The right-handed batsman has accumulated 2333 runs from 95 matches in the Indian T20 League. Overall in his T20 career, Smith has amassed 4438 runs in 209 matches at a decent average of 30.60.

Feature image courtesy: IPL, BCCI 2021.

Australian cricketers "sucked up" to India and Virat Kohli by holding back on verbal sledging to protect lucrative Indian T20 League deals, according to former Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Clarke said players were "too scared" to play a normal game against India because of the influence of the world's wealthiest cricket tournament.

"Everybody knows how powerful India are in regards to the financial part of the game, internationally or domestically with the Indian T20 League," Clarke said on Sky Racing television.

"I feel that Australian cricket, and probably every other team over a little period, went the opposite and actually sucked up to India.

"They were too scared to sledge Kohli or the other Indian players," he said, referring to the verbal sparring that often takes place on the pitch.

Australian players have attracted big money since the Indian T20 League started in 2008. Paceman Pat Cummins is the most expensive overseas star this year with Kolkata paying $2.17 million.

The contest has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the league must announce soon whether it will be held at all. The league was due to feature top internationals including England's Ben Stokes and David Warner of Australia.

Clarke, who played for the now-defunct Pune in 2012, said Australian players coveted the million-dollar deals on offer.

"The players were like: 'I'm not going to sledge Kohli, I want him to pick me for Bangalore so I can make my $1 million for my six weeks"."

"I feel like that's where Australia went through that little phase where our cricket become a little bit softer or not as hard as we're accustomed to seeing."

The league is a huge revenue earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is estimated to generate more than $11 billion for the Indian economy.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / William West