The Melbourne Cricket Ground, also called the “G” by locals, is one of the most iconic and important cricket grounds not just in Australia but in the world. The home of cricket in Australia, the “MCG” was built in 1853. The MCG is the largest cricket stadium in Australia, the second-largest cricket stadium in the world, the 11th largest sporting arena globally, and the largest sports facility in the southern hemisphere. The MCG is a premier sports facility in Australia hosted multiple sporting events apart from cricket. The Summer Olympics of 1956 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games are prime examples.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australian sporting history is so significant that the Australian Sports Museum is located here. The Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG) was the only cricket stadium in the world before Narendra Modi Stadium that could hold a crowd of more than 100,000. A significant for Australia that the Australian government listed it on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2001 and the Australian National Heritage List in 2005. The first international cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was played in 1877 between Australia and England.
An Overview of the Melbourne Cricket Stadium
| Venue Name | Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Opened | 1853 |
| Also Known as | MCG or The “G” |
| Location | 120 Brunton Avenue East Melbourne, Victoria Australia |
| Seating Capacity | 1,00,000 |
| Pitch Behavior | Balanced wicket with assistance to both batters and bowlers |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 71 meters |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 83 meters |
| Bowling Ends | Members End, Great Southern Stand End |
| Floodlights | Yes |
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Pitch Behaviour
The pitch at Melbourne Cricket Ground is known as a superb surface for cricket that provides equal opportunities to both batsmen and bowlers. The surface at the MCG has a constant bounce that benefits pacers early in the game, but, as the match progresses, this bounce allows batters to play their strokes freely. Spinners play a minor role at MCG, although the large boundaries give them some opportunities.
Read More: Adelaide Oval Stadium Pitch Behavior || Perth Cricket Stadium Pitch Behavior
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Records & Stats
287 international cricket matches have been played at MCG so far. Robert Cowper’s 307 runs against England in a test match stand as the highest individual score here. Pakistani fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz put on the best bowling effort at Melbourne, taking 9 wickets for 86 runs in the test match against Australia.
| Total Matches | 287 |
| Average 1st Inning Score | 306 in Tests, 220 in ODIs, 125 in T20Is |
| Highest Total Recorded | 624/8 dec by Australia vs Pakistan in Tests 355/5 by Australia vs England in ODIs 186/5 by India vs Zimbabwe in T20Is |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 36 by South Africa vs Australia in Tests 70 by Australia vs New Zealand in ODIs 117 by Zimbabwe vs New Zealand in T20Is |
| Highest Score Chased | 332/7 England vs Australia in Tests 308/5 by England vs Australia in ODIs 172/5 by Sri Lanka vs Australia in T20Is |
| Highest Individual Score | 307 by Robert Cowper for Australia vs England in Tests 180 by Jason Roy for England vs Australia in ODIs 89 by David Warner for Australia vs South Africa in T20Is |
| Best Bowling Performance | 9/86 by Sarfaraz Nawaz for Pakistan vs Australia in Tests 6/42 by Ajit Agarkar & Yuzvendra Chahal for India vs Australia in ODIs 4/30 by Josh Hazelwood for Australia vs England in T20Is |
Australia Record at Melbourne Cricket Stadium
Australia has played 258 games in Melbourne, winning 153, losing 83, and drawing 17. They played a tied game too at MCG and four matches without any result.
| Played | 258 |
| Won | 153 |
| Lost | 83 |
| Tied | 1 |
| Draw | 17 |
| No Result | 4 |
Australia Test Record at Melbourne Cricket Stadium
Australia won 67, lost 32, and drew 17 of their 116 Test matches played at Melbourne.
| Played | 116 |
| Won | 67 |
| Lost | 32 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 17 |
| No Result | 0 |
Australia ODI Record at Melbourne Cricket Stadium
At Melbourne Cricket Stadium, Australia has played 127 One-Day Internationals, winning 77 and losing 46. One game ended in a tie and three without any outcome.
| Played | 127 |
| Won | 77 |
| Lost | 46 |
| Tied | 1 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 3 |
Australia T20I Record at Melbourne Cricket Stadium
Australia has won 9 and lost 5 of its 15 T20I matches in Melbourne.
| Played | 15 |
| Won | 9 |
| Lost | 5 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 1 |
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Photos
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Boundary Length
The longest boundary at Melbourne Cricket Stadium is 83 meters, while the shortest is 71 meters.
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Capacity
At full capacity, the Melbourne can hold up to 1 lakh spectators.
Melbourne Cricket Stadium Map & Location
120 Brunton Avenue East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
FAQs
Which is the largest cricket ground in Australia?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, better known as the MCG, is the largest cricket ground in Australia that can hold up to more than 100,000 spectators.
How many people can the Melbourne Cricket Ground fit?
There is enough room for 100,000 people in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Is Melbourne a batting or bowling pitch?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground’s pitch offers equal opportunities for batsmen and bowlers, with a constant bounce that benefits pacers and allow batters to play their shots freely.
How big is Melbourne Cricket Ground?
Melbourne Cricket Ground is a huge stadium, stretched in the dimensions of 174 x 149 meters.
