The Basin Reserve is a cricket ground located in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. 

Following its establishment in 1868, the stadium staged its first international cricket match in January 1930, which was a drawn Test between New Zealand and England.

Since then, the Basin Reserve, which is the oldest Test cricket ground in the country, has hosted 67 matches in the longest format of the game.

Here are the Test stats records set at Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Basin Reserve, Wellington Test records and stats

Highest team total

New Zealand posted a daunting third innings total of 680/8d against India in February 2014, which is the highest team total at Basin Reserve. 

The high-scoring match, which saw four players (Ajinkya Rahane, BJ Watling, James Neesham and Virat Kohli) score centuries and Kiwis skipper Brendon McCullum smash a triple ton, ended in a draw. 

Lowest team total

There have been six instances where a team has been bundled out for a score less than 100 in Test matches at Basin Reserve, with New Zealand’s 42 after batting first against Australia in March 1946 being the lowest team total here.

Following an underwhelming batting show by the hosts, Australia cruised to a huge win by an innings and 103 runs.

Average first innings score

The average first innings score in Tests at the Basin Reserve is 309, which hints at a good batting surface. However, the teams bowling first have won more matches here. In the second innings (out of four) the average score rises to 316.

Talking about the pitch, it is more suited to pacers as compared to spin bowlers as nine of the 10 all-time top wicket-takers at the venue are fast bowlers. All-rounder Daniel Vettori is the only spinner on the list.

Highest individual score

In the same match where New Zealand posted the highest team total in Tests at Basin Reserve, it was Brendon McCullum’s breathtaking 302-run knock which put them on top in that contest.

Unfortunately, McCullum’s heroics weren’t enough as Team India managed to earn a draw. 

Best bowling figures

Multiple players have taken a seven-wicket haul in an innings in Tests at this venue, with Black Caps seamer Richard Hardlee’s 7/23 in a winning cause against India in February 1976 being the best bowling figures among them all.

As far as best bowling figures in a match are concerned, West Indies legend Courtney Walsh’s 13/55 versus New Zealand tops the list. The memorable spell helped the Caribbean side thrash the hosts by an innings and 322 runs in February 1995.

Most runs

Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor, who retired from international cricket in 2022, holds the record for most runs in Tests at the venue. The right-hander amassed 1,279 runs in 23 innings at an average of 60.90, including three tons and eight half-centuries.

Most wickets

Considered among the most consistent New Zealand bowlers in the early 2000s, veteran fast bowler Chris Martin holds the record for most wickets in Tests at Basin Reserve. He scalped 60 wickets at an average of 29.88 and an economy of 3.36 in just 14 Tests.

Highest partnership

New Zealand batters Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe hold the record for the highest partnership in Tests at the Basin Reserve. 

The opening Test match of the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 1991 witnessed the two players string together a monumental 467-run stand in the third innings. At that time, it set the record for the highest partnership in Tests, which was bettered only twice in the subsequent years.

Nonetheless, the clash ended in a stalemate at the end of five days.

Photo credit: Alamy