The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a multi-sport venue located in the capital city of the state of New South Wales in Australia.
The SCG is one of the most prominent stadiums in the country during the Australian summer. It usually stages the traditional 'New Year Test', which is generally held in the first week of January.
The venue hosted its inaugural Test match in February 1882, five years after the first-ever Test in cricket history took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Moreover, the 48,000-capacity stadium saw one of the highest individual scores in First Class cricket when Donald Bradman smashed 452* for New South Wales against Queensland in January 1930.
The playing conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground are known to assist the batters in the first two-three days of a Test match before the spinners come into play. Unlike Brisbane or Perth which have favourable conditions for the pacers, the SCG can offer a decent outing for the spinners.
Here are the Test records at the venue.
Sydney Cricket Ground Test records
Highest Total
Team India registered 705/7d against Australia in January 2004, which is the highest total in Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sachin Tendulkar remained unbeaten in both innings, scoring a double ton in the first followed by a half-century in the second. The match ended in a high-scoring stalemate.
Lowest total
Australia were bundled out for 42 in a clash against England in February 1888, which is the lowest total at the venue. It also features among the lowest totals in Test cricket history.
Tailender Tom Garrett was the only Aussie player to reach double figures in an embarrassing first innings display. In the end, the visitors won the match by 126 runs.
Highest individual score
Australian batter Michael Clarke is the only cricketer to smash a triple century at the SCG when he achieved the feat against India in January 2012.
The marathon innings of 329*, laced with 39 fours and a maximum, guided the hosts to a massive victory by an innings and 68 runs.
Best bowling figures
Former England pacer George Lohmann bagged a match-winning 8/35 vs Australia in 1887, the best bowling figures in an innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
As far as the best bowling figures in a match are concerned, former Australia seamer Charlie Turner’s 12/87 holds the record. Unfortunately, it came in the same match where his side recorded the lowest team total at the venue.
Highest partnership
Don Bradman and Sid Barnes hold the record for the highest partnership at the SCG in Tests. Furthermore, it was the only instance where a 400-plus run partnership was witnessed at the venue.
The former Australian duo forged a huge 405-run stand for the fifth wicket against England in December 1946. The partnership saw their side win by an innings and 33 runs.
Photo credit: Alamy
