Located in Leeds, England, the Headingley Cricket Ground was established in 1890 and is home to the England cricket team and the Yorkshire County Cricket Club at the domestic level.
It has the capacity to house more than 18,000 spectators and has been hosting Test matches since 1899.
It was initially intended for the use of six sports, which were cricket, football, tennis, bowls, rugby, and cycling.
However fast-forward to today and it is mostly known for hosting cricket matches, some of which have been the most dramatic in the history of the sport.
From Sir Don Bradman’s two triple tons in 1930 and 1934 to England's dramatic comeback against Australia after being asked to follow-on in 1981, the Headingley Cricket Ground has seen its fair share of unforgettable matches over the years.
The first international Test at this venue was played between Australia and England in June 1899 and the match ended in a draw.
Overall, there have been as many as 80 Test matches played at Leeds and here we take a look at some of the key red-ball stats and records at Headingley Cricket Ground.
Headingley Cricket Ground Test stats and records
Highest total
The record for the highest Test total on this ground is held by Australia. The Aussies created this record in the fourth Test of the 1993 Ashes series against England. Batting first after winning the toss, Australia went on to post a mammoth 653/4 declared powerd by Player of the Match Allan Border’s unbeaten 200 as well as David Boon’s 107 and Steve Waugh’s 157. In reply, England were bundled out for 200 in their first innings and 305 in the second as Australia registered an innings and 148-run win to take a 3-0 lead and clinch the series.
Lowest total
West Indies hold the unenviable record for the lowest total in Tests on this ground. In the fourth Test of the Windies’ 2000 tour of England, the visitors were 172 all out in their first innings before England made 272 in their first innings to take a 100-run lead. In West Indies’ second innings, they were bundled out for just 61 - the lowest Test total at Headingley - as England registered an innings and 39-run win. The win gave England a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Most runs
Sir Don Bradman has scored the most runs in Tests at Headingley. The Australian legend made 963 runs at an average of 192.60 in four matches at the venue. He scored four hundreds and struck two triple tons on the ground, including his career-best high score of 334.
Most wickets
England’s Stuart Broad loves bowling at Headingly and is the leading wicket-taker in Tests on this ground having taken 49 scalps. Broad has got his 49 Test wickets at Headingly at an average of 27.24 and an economy of 3.45.
Highest individual score
The record for the highest individual score in Tests on this ground is held by the legendary Sir Don Bradman. As already mentioned, he’s scored two triple tons at this venue and the highest individual score on this ground was made by him in the third Test of the 1930 Ashes series. Batting first, Australia went on to post 566 with Bradman playing a starring role with 334 runs, out of which he made 309 runs on the opening day itself - the most runs by any batter in one day in a Test to date. Even though the match went on to end in a draw with England managing 391 in their first innings and 95/3 in the second after following-on, the Test will forever be remembered for Bradman’s 334 - the highest individual score on the ground.
Best bowling figures
England’s Bob Willis holds the record for the best bowling figures in Tests on this ground. In a dramatic third Test of the 1981 Ashes series against Australia, the Aussies managed to post 401/9 declared in their first innings before bundling out England for 174 and forcing them to follow-on. In their second innings, England managed to score 356 thanks to Ian Botham 149 not out, and set the Aussies a target of 130 to chase. Australia was heavily fancied to win the Test by chasing down the target but England’s Bob Willis was in inspired form and produced a match-winning spell that saw him finish with figures of 8/43, which is the best in Tests on this ground. His spell helped skittle out Australia for 111 as England registered an 18-run win. It was only the second time in the history of cricket that a side that had followed-on won the Test.
Best bowling figures in a match
England’s Colin Blythe holds the record for best bowling figures in a Test match at Headingley. In a low-scoring second Test of a three-match series against South Africa in 1907, Colin Blythe finished with figures of 15/99 in the game. England made 76 and 162 in both their innings, while South Africa made 110 and 75 in theirs as the hosts won the match with Colin Blythe’s bowling proving to be a decisive factor in the win. He finished with figures of 8/59 in the first inning and 7/40 in the second to end the match with figures of 15/99 and help England to a 53-run victory as well as a 1-0 lead in the series.
Highest partnership
Australian duo Bill Ponsford and Sir Don Bradman hold the record for the highest partnership in Tests at Headingley. In the fourth Test of the 1934 Ashes series, England opted to bat first and managed to post 200 runs before being bundled out by the Aussies. In reply, Australia scored 584 with Ponsford (181) and Bradman (304) playing starring roles. They put on 388 runs for the fourth wicket and helped give Australia a 384-run lead. England then managed 229/6 in their second innings as the Test ended in a draw.
Photo credit: Alamy
