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As one of the most widely played sports in the world, cricket requires stadiums to be large enough to hold the growing number of devoted followers and spectators who seize every opportunity to visit these venues and see the live action. So, the biggest cricket stadium based on boundary size is Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia
Straight boundary: 83,43m
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Square boundary: 86,235m
Introduction
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), sometimes referred to as “The ‘G” locally, is a sporting arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia that is situated in Yarra Park. It was built and is operated by the Melbourne Cricket Club and is the second-biggest cricket venue in terms of capacity, the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, and the 11th largest worldwide. The Richmond and Jolimont railway stations, as well as the Route 70, route 75, and Route 48 trams, as well as the city center, are all within walking distance of the MCG. It is a part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment District and is next to Melbourne Park.
History
The MCG is situated on a Wurundjeri camping area, which is also the location of several corroborees. The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), which was established in November 1838, chose the current MCG location in 1853 after having previously played at several grounds throughout Melbourne. The club’s inaugural match took place at the Old Mint site, on the corner of William and LaTrobe Streets, against a military team. The club moved to a location on the south bank of the Yarra around where the Herald & Weekly Times building is today from Cemetery Hill (now Flagstaff Gardens) in January 1839 since the land had already been designated for Botanical Gardens.
Also Read: 10 Biggest Cricket Stadiums in India
Stadium Development
The initial grandstand at the MCG was a temporary 6000-seat building that was 200 meters long and completed in 1861, while the first wooden members’ stand was constructed in 1854. Another grandstand with 2000 seats was constructed in 1876 for the tour of James Lillywhite’s English cricket team in 1877, facing one way towards the cricket ground and the other towards the park where football was played. The first Test match ever played at the MCG took place during this tour.
The initial members’ stand was purchased by the Richmond Cricket Club for £55 in 1881. It was replaced with a new brick stand that was thought to be the best cricket stadium in the world at the time. A telephone was also built in 1881, and the direction of the wickets and goalposts was adjusted from east-west to north-south. A scoreboard that displayed information about the batsman’s name and method of dismissal was constructed in 1882.
Amenities
The MCG can accommodate about 100,000 people in total, including 95,000 seats and 5,000 standing-room-only areas. From fence to fence, the playing area is 174 x 149 meters. The pitch is lit by six large light towers, and there are additional lights underneath the stadium’s roof. The towers, which are 75 meters tall, were constructed in 1984 and were utilized for the first time in a function in February 1985. The MCG currently features the two biggest video screens in an Australian stadium and was the first stadium in Australia to possess a full-color video screen (the first was erected in 1982). The two 25.24 meter wide by 13.17 meter tall LED high-definition scoreboards, each measuring 332 square meters, were both turned on in December 2013. Moreover, there is LED signage on the first floor and a barrier, including two scoreboards.
Also Read: The Top Five Greatest Cricket Stadiums in Pakistan
Pitch Report
One of the most challenging surfaces in the world is believed to be the 22-yards at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). It provides a good balance between the ball and the bat. As the game progresses, the batsmen can play their strokes freely while the bowlers first receive some assistance from the mostly real bounce. At the MCG, spinners do not, however, typically receive much support. The drop-in pitches have remained a constant challenging force at MCG ever since 1996. A drop-in pitch is a cricket pitch that is constructed apart from the location where it will be used and is then “dropped in” for a match. This makes multi-purpose stadiums more adaptable than a specific cricket ground would be to host other sports and events.
Records and Statistics
Test Records
| Highest Total Recorded | 624/8 (142 Ov) by AUS vs PAK |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 36/10 (23.2 Ov) by RSA vs AUS |
ODI Records
| Highest Total Recorded | 355/5 (48 Ov) by AUS vs ENG |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 94/10 (31.7 Ov) by ENG vs AUS |
| Highest Score Chased | 308/5 (48.5 Ov) by ENG vs AUS |
| Lowest Score Defended | 169/6 (57 Ov) by AUSW vs ENGW |
T20I Records
| Highest Total Recorded | 186/5 (20 Ov) by IND vs ZIM |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 74/10 (17.3 Ov) by IND vs AUS |
| Highest Score Chased | 172/5 (20 Ov) by SL vs AUS |
| Lowest Score Defended | 127/10 (18.4 Ov) by AUS vs PAK |
