The Melbourne Cricket Ground, also known as ‘The G’, is a sporting venue located in Victoria, a state in the South Eastern part of Australia.
With a capacity of over 100,000, it is the second largest cricket ground in the world in terms of capacity, just behind Narendra Modi Stadium in India.
The venue has a rich history of hosting cricket matches dating back to March 1856, when MCG staged its first recorded match, an inter-colonial clash between Victoria and New South Wales.
Two decades later, the first official Test match was played at the venue between Australia and England in March 1877 where the hosts won by 45 runs. Interestingly, it was also the first-ever Test played in the history of the sport.
Since then, the iconic stadium has hosted over 100 fixtures in the longest format of the game. Moreover, MCG hosts the famous Boxing Day Test match, which is held every year on December 26.
Here are the Test records at the venue.
Melbourne Cricket Ground Test records
Highest total
The Australian cricket team has breached the 600-run mark thrice in Test matches at the MCG, with the best being 624/8d against Pakistan in December 2016.
Riding on David Warner and captain Steve Smith’s tons, the hosts nullified Azhar Ali’s unbeaten double century to make it a one-sided contest, winning the match by an innings and 18 runs.
Lowest total
South Africa’s embarrassing performance against Australia in February 1932 saw them being bundled out for 36 in the first innings, which is the lowest total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and one of the lowest scores in Test cricket history.
Australian spinner Bert Ironmonger completed the humiliation of the tourists with astonishing figures of 11/24 as the hosts won by an innings and 72 runs.
Highest individual score
Former Aussie all-rounder Bob Cowper smashed a 589-ball 307 in his 12-hour stay in the middle against England in February 1966, which is the highest individual total at the venue. The match ended in a high-scoring draw.
Furthermore, it was the only triple-century scored on Australian soil until Matthew Hayden's 380 versus Zimbabwe in 2003.
Best bowling figures
Two players have bagged nine wickets each in an innings on two separate instances.
While Australia’s Arthur Mailey rattled England with his match-winning 9/121 in February 1921, Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz’s 9/86 guided his team to a 71-run win over the hosts in March 1979.
Meanwhile, England’s Wilfred Rhodes holds the record for the best bowling figures in a match when he bagged 15/124, helping his team to a 185-run win over Australia in January 1904.
Highest Partnership
Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton hold the record for the highest partnership at the MCG in Tests.
The former Australian duo forged an impressive 346-run stand for the sixth wicket against England in January 1937. The marathon partnership powered their side to a 356-run victory.
Photo credit: Alamy
