The Hagley Oval is one of the world’s oldest cricket grounds located in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Established in 1851, the Canterbury cricket team used the venue frequently until the 1920s.
Situated in the Hagley Park in the central city of Christchurch, the Hagley Oval has a seating capacity of 9,000 and is expandable to 18,000.
Hagley Oval staged its first international men’s cricket match, a one-day game played between Canada and Scotland during the 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in January 2014. Scotland won the match by 170 runs.
It later staged its first Test played between hosts New Zealand and Sri Lanka in December 2014. The hosts won the Test by eight wickets. Since then, it has hosted 12 Test matches in men’s cricket.
In November 2019, the Hagley Oval staged its first T20 international as England beat New Zealand by seven wickets in that game.
Ahead of the second Test between New Zealand and Australia, let’s have a closer look at the Hagley Oval Test records and stats:
Hagley Oval Test records and stats
Highest total
The New Zealand cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Hagley Oval in Test cricket. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in 2021, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 659/6d after bowling out the visitors for 297 in their first innings. Captain Kane Williamson led from the front as he slammed 238 off 364 balls, along with contributions from Henry Nicholls (157) and Daryl Mitchell (102 not out) to help New Zealand register a record Test total at the venue. New Zealand later bundled out Pakistan for 188 in their second innings to win the Christchurch Test by an innings and 176 runs.
Lowest total
The South Africa cricket team registered the lowest total at the Hagley Oval in Tests. The Dean Elgar-led visitors were skittled out for 95 in 49.2 overs during the first Test of South Africa’s tour of New Zealand in 2022. Zubayr Hamza top-scored for the Proteas with 25 while wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne added 18. For New Zealand, right-arm pacer Matt Henry was the wrecker-in-chief as he bagged seven wickets for just 23 runs. New Zealand posted 482 in their first innings to register a massive lead. The hosts later bowled out South Africa for 111 in their second innings to win the Test by an innings and 276 runs.
Most runs
New Zealand’s star cricketer Tom Latham has scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. The wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 971 runs in 12 Test matches at an average of 48.55. Latham has slammed two centuries and five fifties in this venue in Test cricket. New Zealand talisman Kane Williamson is second on the list with 696 runs in nine Test matches at an average of 49.71.
Most wickets
New Zealand captain Tim Southee picked up the most wickets at the Hagley Oval in Test cricket. Between 2014 and 2023, the right-arm fast bowler has scalped 59 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 21.64. He has claimed one four-wicket haul and four fifers at this venue in Tests. Compatriot Trent Boult features second on the list with 53 wickets in nine Tests.
Highest individual score
Tom Latham registered the highest individual score at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Opening the batting, captain Tom Latham led from the front as he hammered 252 against Bangladesh in the first innings of the second Test in January 2022. His magnificent double century was laced with 34 fours and two sixes to help New Zealand post a huge total of 521/6d. The hosts later bowled out Bangladesh for 126 and 278 in their two innings to win the Test by an innings and 117 runs.
Best bowling figures in an innings
New Zealand cricketer Matt Henry recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 2022. The right-arm pacer registered brilliant figures of 7/23 to help bundle out South Africa for 95 in their first innings. Matt Henry dismissed opposition captain Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Zubayr Hamza, Kyle Verreynne, Kagiso Rabada, and Glenton Stuurman. New Zealand thrashed South Africa by an innings and 276 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The series later ended 1-1.
Best bowling figures in a match
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Hagley Oval. The right-arm fast bowler took 11 wickets during the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in 2021. While Kyle Jamieson bagged five wickets for 69 runs in the first innings, he scalped another six wickets for 48 runs in the second innings. Jamieson’s incredible bowling performance helped New Zealand win the Test by an innings and 276 runs.
Highest partnership
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls recorded the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls forged a massive 369-run stand for the fourth wicket in their first innings of the second Test against Pakistan in 2021. Williamson slammed 238 while Nicholls scored 157. New Zealand won the Christchurch Test by an innings and 176 runs.
Photo credit: Alamy
