The Adelaide Oval is one of the iconic Test match venues in Australia. Located in Adelaide, Australia, the stadium has a capacity of 53,583. Despite the recent redevelopment of the ground in 2014, the Northern hill and the heritage scoreboard give a nostalgic feeling to the fans.
Some riveting Tests were played here, especially in the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Along with the Australian cricket team, it is home to South Australia in domestic cricket and Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Generally, the Adelaide Oval is known to be a batter-friendly pitch and makes bowlers toil for success. The pitch is flat for the first three days of a Test match, bringing the spinners in to play on the final two days. The Adelaide Oval started using drop-in pitches from 2013, providing a slight variance from its usual nature.
Since the first Test at the venue in December 1884, wherein England beat Australia by eight wickets, a total of 82 matches have been played. Among these, 40 have been won by the team batting first while teams bowling first have won 23 times. Australia, the host nation, have won 43 of the 80 matches they have played at the Adelaide Oval.
The average first innings score at the Adelaide Oval is 381, followed by 348, 273 and 212 in the second, third and fourth innings, respectively.
Adelaide Oval Test records
Highest total: Australia’s 674 against India in January 1948 is the highest Test total at the Adelaide Oval. Sir Donald Bradman smashed a double-century for the hosts, while Sid Barnes and Lindsay Hassett also scored centuries.
Pakistan and England have registered the second and third-highest totals at the venue with scores of 624 and 620/5, respectively.
Lowest total: India have the lowest total at the Adelaide Oval in Test cricket. Virat Kohli and Co. were bowled out for 36 in 21.2 overs against Australia in December 2020 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Meanwhile, with 82 and 100, the hosts have registered the second and third lowest-totals, respectively.
Highest individual score: David Warner tonked the Pakistan bowlers around in November 2019, scoring 335 runs off 418 balls, hitting 39 fours and one six. It is the highest individual score in Tests at the Adelaide Oval.
Sir Donald Bradman held the record for 87 years before Warner’s knock courtesy an unbeaten 299 against South Africa in January 1932. Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and Michael Clarke are among the other batters who have registered a double-hundred at the Adelaide Oval.
Best bowling figures: Albert Trott, who played for both teams from the Ashes divide, took eight wickets while conceding 43 runs for Australia against England in January 1985. Ashley Mallett, Kapil Dev, Geoff Lawson and Jack White have also picked eight-fers at this venue in Tests. However, Trott holds the record as he gave away the least runs.
Among active cricketers, Nathan Lyon’s 7/152 against India in December 2014 are the best bowling figures in Tests at the Adelaide Oval.
Most runs: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has scored the most runs in Tests at the Adelaide Oval. Known as “Punter”, he scored 1,743 runs in 17 matches at an average of 60.10 at the venue. His exploits included six hundreds and six fifties.
Allan Border and Michael Clarke, also former Aussie captains, made 1,415 and 1,414 runs, respectively, in Tests at this venue. David Warner, Steve Waugh and Justin Langer are the other players who have amassed four-figure Test runs at the Adelaide Oval.
Most wickets: Nathan Lyon has taken 56 wickets in only 11 matches at the Adelaide Oval, making him the joint-leading wicket-taker in Tests at the venue. Lyon boasts an outstanding economy rate of 2.61 and has picked five five-fers.
Shane Warne, the former Australian spinner, also picked 56 wickets at the Adelaide Oval, but in 13 matches. He is followed by Glenn McGrath (46 wickets), Dennis Lillee (45 wickets) and Craig McDermott (42 wickets).
Highest partnership: In January 2012, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke put together a 386-run stand for the fourth wicket against India, making it the highest partnership at the Adelaide Oval.
The Indian pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman scored 303 runs for the fifth wicket against Australia in December 2003, creating a platform for a famous victory.
Featured image: Alamy
