The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is an iconic sporting venue located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, the largest city in the Australian state of Victoria.
Locally known as the “The G”, the MCG was established in 1853 and is officially the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a seating capacity of nearly 1,00,000 including standing room.
The cricket ground is situated adjacent to the Melbourne Park and is part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment.
The MCG hosted its first international cricket match, a Test between arch-rivals Australia and England, in March 1877. Since then, the venue has staged 114 Tests, 151 ODIs and 15 T20Is. It has also served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two 50-over Cricket World Cups in 1992 and 2015. It has also been used as the principal venue for the Australian Football League (AFL) matches including the AFL final.
The historic venue is also set to host the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 matches including the highly-anticipated Australia-England and India-Pakistan fixtures as well as the final scheduled to be played on November 13.
The Australian cricket team has a decent T20I record at the MCG, winning nine of the 15 T20Is that they have played so far. The Aussies have lost five T20Is while one match ended in no result.
Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, let’s have a look at the T20I records at the iconic MCG.
Melbourne Cricket Ground T20I records and stats
Highest total: The Indian cricket team’s 186/5 against Zimbabwe is the highest team total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the T20I format. During ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, the Indians rode on Suryakumar Yadav's 61 off 25 balls and KL Rahul’s 35-ball 51 to post a highly competitive total on the board. In reply, Zimbabwe could only manage 115 runs in 17.2 overs as India secured a clinical 71-run victory.
Lowest total: India’s 74 all out against Australia is the lowest T20I total at this venue. During the only T20I of India’s tour of Australia in 2008, India were bundled out for 74 in 17.3 overs. Nathan Bracken was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia as he picked three wickets for 11 runs in his 2.3 overs. For India, Irfan Pathan top-scored with 26 off 30 balls. In response, Australia chased down the target in 11.2 overs and claimed a dominating nine-wicket win.
Highest individual score: Australia’s David Warner has registered the highest individual T20I score at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The swashbuckling southpaw smashed 89 runs off just 43 balls against South Africa in a T20I encounter in 2009. Warner’s blitzkrieg was laced with seven fours and six maximums.
Best bowling figures: Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has the best bowling figures at this ground in T20I cricket. The right-arm pacer claimed four wickets for 30 runs in his quota of four overs against arch-rivals England in a T20I fixture in January 2014. Hazlewood’s match-winning spell restricted England to 130/9 in their 20 overs. Hosts Australia rode on unbeaten fifties from Cameron White (58) and captain George Bailey (60) to chase down the total in 14.5 overs and eight wickets in hand.
Most runs: Australia’s Aaron Finch has amassed the most runs at this venue in the T20I format. Between 2011 and 2022, Finch has scored 334 runs in 12 matches at an average of 37.11 and a strike rate of 143.34. He has hit two fifties at MCG in T20I cricket so far. Finch’s long-time opening partner David Warner is second on the list with 217 runs in seven matches.
Most wickets: Kane Richardson of Australia has picked the most wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in T20 internationals. The right-arm fast bowler has bagged nine wickets in just four matches at an economy of 8.29 and an average of 14.44. India's Hardik Pandya features second on the list with six wickets in three matches.
Highest partnership: Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya hold the record for the highest partnership at the MCG in T20Is. The Indian duo forged an impressive 113-run stand for the fifth wicket against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022. The scintillating partnership powered India to a final-over victory against Pakistan in the Super 12s.
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Featured photo: William WEST / AFP
