The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is one of the oldest sporting facilities in Zimbabwe and was established back in 1890. The first international match here was a Test match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, which ended in a draw.
The ground has hosted 23 Tests, 82 ODIs, and 19 T20Is so far and only the Harare Sports Club has hosted more international matches than this venue in Zimbabwe. This tally also includes two matches during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 when Zimbabwe co-hosted the tournament alongside South Africa and Namibia.
Here’s a look at all the Test records and stats at the Queens Sports Club.
Queens Sports Club Test records and stats
Most runs
Andy Flower holds the record for the most runs scored at the Queens Sports Club in Test cricket. The legendary keeper-batter scored 871 runs in 11 matches at an average of 51.23, including two centuries and six half-centuries.
Most wickets
Heath Streak picked up 37 wickets in 14 Tests at this venue - the most by any bowler. He is one of two bowlers to have picked up over 30 wickets on this ground, alongside his former teammate Ray Price (31 wickets in seven matches).
Average 1st innings score
The average first innings score at the Queens Sports Club is 309 and it goes up to 401 in the second innings (out of four).
Highest individual score
Sri Lankan stalwart Kumar Sangakkara raised the roof at the Queens Sports Club when his team visited Zimbabwe in 2004. Sangakkara scored 270 off 365 balls, which included 36 fours and two sixes. It is the highest individual score on this ground and helped Sri Lanka register a convincing win.
Best bowling figures
Paul Strang returned with figures of 8/109 against New Zealand during the first Test in 2000. These are the best bowling figures in an innings at the Queens Sports Club. Adam Huckle holds the record for the best bowling figures in a match, who picked up 11 wickets in the second Test against New Zealand in 1997.
Highest team total
Riding on double-centuries from Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka amassed 713/3 (declared) against Zimbabwe in 2004, which is the highest team total at this venue.
Lowest team total
No team has been bowled out for a total under 100 in Test cricket at the Queens Sports Club so far. Zimbabwe were all out for 104 against West Indies in the fourth innings of the match in 2003, which is the lowest team total at this venue. West Indies won the game by 128 runs.
Highest partnership
The Sri Lankan duo of Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara added 438 runs for the second wicket against Zimbabwe in 2004. This remains the only instance of a batting pair scoring 300 or more runs together at the venue.
Photo Credit: Alamy
