Stadiums & Their Pitch Conditions
- Thread starter jkartik
- Start date
angryangy
ICC Chairman
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2004
Melbourne Cricket Ground Google Maps
Field
For one of cricket's most famous venues, cricket actually takes a back seat, with the ground being a desirable venue for almost any outdoor sport. The pitch square is removed during winter to ensure a soft and even football turf, while recent resurfacing means the outfield is not as downhill as it used to be. Victorian first class matches are often deferred to the Junction Oval so that the MCG is free for bigger events. The MCG is an oblate ellipse, much like the ancient Colosseum it emulates. At 173m square and 148m straight, it is a gigantic ground. The square boundary is limited to the maximum 82m, while the straight is 71m from the centre, or about 79m from the batsman. The grass is lush, but drainage is state of the art. Indeed, like Ancient Rome, no expense is spared to ensure the MCG is worthy of envy.
Weather
Melbourne is famous for its mercurial weather patterns. The chilly sea breeze which blows off Bass Strait, combined with north-westerlies heated in the outback help to make weather swirl around Port Phillip Bay. The hot winds often give rise to terrible bushfires and although the weather can change quickly, it tends to be quite hot and dry. In the centre of the MCG, the breeze also swirls about and the heat is intensified by the great mass of steel and concrete. It can make life tough for the fielding side, especially if they're foreign.
Surface Character
The centre wicket at the MCG is a two-piece drop-in wicket. It can be a bit slow, but that's little difference from the pitches in the 80s, long before the drop-in. Bounce can be a weapon at the MCG. In some cases, particularly late in the season, the two ends of the pitch can behave differently, or generally unevenly. More recently, it has been lively early in the season. There can be a little swing and a little turn, but generally not too much of either. It's a pitch where you use the new ball wisely.
Sydney Cricket Ground Google Maps
Field
The SCG cherishes its various heritages, sporting stands built in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Nevertheless, it manages an impressive capacity of some 46,000. The playing surface, small by AFL standards, is an irregular oval 161m straight by 146m square, with the wicket square slightly displaced towards the north and east boundaries. The western boundary is about 72m, but the eastern boundary is a couple of metres shorter. The boundaries through the V at either end are the maximum 82m, meaning the ground is big where it counts if you're a spinner. Like the MCG, the SCG hosts a fair share of football and this can leave areas of the ground bare. In spite of what it might look, the outfield is usually very good.
Weather
Sydney weather tends to behave subtropically in summer; hot, humid and quite rainy. While this and a little easterly breeze might seem conducive to swing bowling, the ball doesn't tend to swing too dramatically. If the pitch is not moist enough at the start of the game, the midsummer heat can lead to severe cracking like what was seen in the 3rd Test against South Africa in 08-09.
Surface Character
The SCG is famous for its dirt. Bulli soil originally came from an area south of Sydney, but is now a generic term for a kind of soil that is used in dozens of pitches. Like most Australian pitch soils, it is rich in smectite clays and low in organic matter, so that it expands when wet and sets hard. It also contains the right sands to give a bit of extra turn and tends to resist cracking or crumbling for the first few days. Turn alone doesn't aid spinners, but the prospect of both turn and bounce is what is enticing at Sydney. The way the pitch can change character often confounds tourists, with the initial surface often a bit tacky, before livening up.
Adelaide Oval Google Maps
Field
Established in 1871, Adelaide is one of the most iconic grounds in the world and has been reluctant to embrace change, only contructing 4 light towers in 1997. In spite of the name, this is one of the least oval shaped grounds in Australia. It is an almost square D shape, owing to its use as a cycling track until 1910. The dimensions of the field are 190m straight by 126. Although before the regulations regarding boundary ropes, batsmen could run more than 4 for a drive down the ground, with modern rules, the ropes are as much as 15 metres from the fence to bring the boundary down to the maximum 82m from the centre. In stark contrast, the width across is some 10m below modern standard, with boundaries just 60m out. Picturesque and proud of it, the Adelaide Oval nevertheless desires the charms of the AFL. To become a more practical football oval, renovations already in progress will increase the ground's capacity by 5000 as well as rounding off the western fence to be more oval-shaped. The old red stands will be replaced by a sharp new composite western stand designed to match the existing Chappell stand. Care is being taken to maintain important elements, such as the views, the local flora and the classic scoreboard on the hill. This redevelopment is aimed at the 2010-11 Ashes series and incentivised by the prospect of World Cups in 2015 and 2018.
Weather
Adelaide is very hot and dry, often exposed to the same fire-bearing northerlies as Melbourne. The low lay of the ground and city itself allow breezes to flow in, but they do not tend to provide much assistance, or even respite for the players.
Surface Character
In the words of groundsman Les Burdett, the pitch is designed to take matches to the last session of the last day. It is not a pitch which ever breaks up and while it is felt that it favours spin, it doesn't offer the bounce at Sydney. Accuracy is essential for bowlers as short deliveries are easily carved up, so too anything wide or on the pads. Late in the game, the pitch will become uneven, but the best hope for seam bowlers is if they can master the conditions and produce searing reverse swinging yorkers.
WACA Ground Google Maps
Field
The WACA Ground, established in 1893, was formerly a genuine oval used for both cricket and football and perhaps if it weren't for the footy, it wouldn't have its six 70m tall light towers. As thet AFL took its games to the larger oval at Subiaco, the WACA took the unique move of decreasing the ground's capacity and cutting the square boundaries, not only making room for picturesque hills, but also taking it below regulation size for Australian rules. The playing area is 149m square and 139m straight; with the ropes in, square boundaries are a comfortable 72m and a dead straight drive is just a little longer, around 75m. The longest boundaries are the full regulation 82m to the rope through cover or midwicket. As part of a large scale redevelopment plan for East Perth, the WACA can expect to see greatly upgraded grandstands and a new construction on the western hill, with apartments overlooking the eastern side of the ground in a situation not unlike that at London's Oval.
Weather
Perth has a similar Mediterranean climate to Adelaide, but rain tends to come in the form of furious storms, often remnants of cyclones carried down the coast. Perth weather is also broken up by the Fremantle Doctor, a south-westerly sea breeze that is usually at its strongest during the international cricket season. Due to the low stands and the hills on the sides of the ground, the breeze flows strongly through the ground. It can be of varying benefit to the bowler. It is said that Terry Alderman could swing the Kookaburra for 30 overs. Shane Warne also enjoyed the benefits of drift, though it was not his favourite ground. The breeze can also be too strong, frustrating bowlers and aiding batsmen who hit with the breeze.
Surface Character
What you expect at Perth depends on what sort of Perth you're familiar with. In past ages, it was know for its extreme hardness and cracking would be the chief feature for bowlers to exploit late in the game. In the last decade it has flattened out a bit. Much of the clay had been replaced by sand, making it slower, less likely to crack and also providing a peculiar attraction for spinners. After being relaid, the pitch seems to be in a more traditional space, with a soil of 75% smectite clay. Currently, it's not excitingly fast, with fears that the full fury of the pitch would result in short Test matches. An early season pitch can certainly be a frightful place for batsmen. Nevertheless, teams have still tended to get bowled out cheaply, but mostly due to the odd ball not coming on. In some limited overs games, this uneven bounce has been quite prevalent.
Brisbane Cricket Ground Google Maps
Field
Ensconced by a symmetric triple-tiered ring of seats and a white cloth roof, if the Gabba has lost any rustic charms since 1895, it has at least gained some elegant aesthetics. The field is 170m wide and 150m long, but the centre wickets are not quite aligned with the axes of the oval. In practice, the straight boundary is some 77m when facing the Vulture St end and 82m facing the Stanley St end. Due to the sub-tropical climate, the Gabba can find itself the victim of water damage and fungal infection, but the drainage is superb and these things rarely slow the outfield down.
Weather
Southern Queensland is genuinely subtropical, hot and humid in summer, with ample, sometimes monsoonal rainfall. This often facilitates excellent swing bowling performances, as well as the odd pitch that is underprepared and green. It can nevertheless get sunny enough to produce cracks in the hard Gabba pitch. Winter in Brisbane rivals an English summer and for this reason, the Centre of Excellence each year brings young cricketers from all over the world to Brisbane in the off season.
Surface Character
Resurfacing for the Olympics in 2000 appeared to dull the wicket, but in recent times it has recovered so much venom it rightly threatens the the WACA for the title of fastest pitch in the land and perhaps the greenest in international cricket. Ideally however, it's not meant to be green. Just a little drier and it falls right in the zone of perfection, rewarding spin, seam and bat, that is at least, if you're Australian. The last time the home side lost a Test at Brisbane was in 1988, to a rampant West Indies.
Bellerive Oval Google Maps
Field
With its cosy stands, northern European summers and lack of light towers, one could be forgiven for thinking they had walked into a county ground by accident. The oval is long down the ground at 175m, while 135m across the perpendicular. Although built in 1914, it did not even have turf pitches until 1957! The ground was not one of note until 1977 when the TCA elected to build grandstands and nominate the ground as its new headquarters. Thus, in spite of its low lying and low capacity appearance, the facilities are quite modern. As the TCA are keen to host more ODIs, they are set to install lights with the financial backing of the state government, pending council approval.
Weather
Tasmania's weather is much cooler than the mainland, perhaps resembling English weather. Bellerive is adjacent to the mouth of the Derwent River, a popular area for yachting, so the ground may get some useful breezes, though the southern stand blocks much of it.
Surface Character
Test pitches at Hobart tend to be profitable for batting, particularly later in the game. Like the SCG it can be a little difficult to bat on early and the pitch is generally thought to have good turn and bounce for spinners, but due to the more mild weather, it doesn't run much chance of breaking up. In one dayers, the grey colour of the pitch can be a problem as the ball ends up the same colour.
Field
For one of cricket's most famous venues, cricket actually takes a back seat, with the ground being a desirable venue for almost any outdoor sport. The pitch square is removed during winter to ensure a soft and even football turf, while recent resurfacing means the outfield is not as downhill as it used to be. Victorian first class matches are often deferred to the Junction Oval so that the MCG is free for bigger events. The MCG is an oblate ellipse, much like the ancient Colosseum it emulates. At 173m square and 148m straight, it is a gigantic ground. The square boundary is limited to the maximum 82m, while the straight is 71m from the centre, or about 79m from the batsman. The grass is lush, but drainage is state of the art. Indeed, like Ancient Rome, no expense is spared to ensure the MCG is worthy of envy.
Weather
Melbourne is famous for its mercurial weather patterns. The chilly sea breeze which blows off Bass Strait, combined with north-westerlies heated in the outback help to make weather swirl around Port Phillip Bay. The hot winds often give rise to terrible bushfires and although the weather can change quickly, it tends to be quite hot and dry. In the centre of the MCG, the breeze also swirls about and the heat is intensified by the great mass of steel and concrete. It can make life tough for the fielding side, especially if they're foreign.
Surface Character
The centre wicket at the MCG is a two-piece drop-in wicket. It can be a bit slow, but that's little difference from the pitches in the 80s, long before the drop-in. Bounce can be a weapon at the MCG. In some cases, particularly late in the season, the two ends of the pitch can behave differently, or generally unevenly. More recently, it has been lively early in the season. There can be a little swing and a little turn, but generally not too much of either. It's a pitch where you use the new ball wisely.
Sydney Cricket Ground Google Maps
Field
The SCG cherishes its various heritages, sporting stands built in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Nevertheless, it manages an impressive capacity of some 46,000. The playing surface, small by AFL standards, is an irregular oval 161m straight by 146m square, with the wicket square slightly displaced towards the north and east boundaries. The western boundary is about 72m, but the eastern boundary is a couple of metres shorter. The boundaries through the V at either end are the maximum 82m, meaning the ground is big where it counts if you're a spinner. Like the MCG, the SCG hosts a fair share of football and this can leave areas of the ground bare. In spite of what it might look, the outfield is usually very good.
Weather
Sydney weather tends to behave subtropically in summer; hot, humid and quite rainy. While this and a little easterly breeze might seem conducive to swing bowling, the ball doesn't tend to swing too dramatically. If the pitch is not moist enough at the start of the game, the midsummer heat can lead to severe cracking like what was seen in the 3rd Test against South Africa in 08-09.
Surface Character
The SCG is famous for its dirt. Bulli soil originally came from an area south of Sydney, but is now a generic term for a kind of soil that is used in dozens of pitches. Like most Australian pitch soils, it is rich in smectite clays and low in organic matter, so that it expands when wet and sets hard. It also contains the right sands to give a bit of extra turn and tends to resist cracking or crumbling for the first few days. Turn alone doesn't aid spinners, but the prospect of both turn and bounce is what is enticing at Sydney. The way the pitch can change character often confounds tourists, with the initial surface often a bit tacky, before livening up.
Adelaide Oval Google Maps
Field
Established in 1871, Adelaide is one of the most iconic grounds in the world and has been reluctant to embrace change, only contructing 4 light towers in 1997. In spite of the name, this is one of the least oval shaped grounds in Australia. It is an almost square D shape, owing to its use as a cycling track until 1910. The dimensions of the field are 190m straight by 126. Although before the regulations regarding boundary ropes, batsmen could run more than 4 for a drive down the ground, with modern rules, the ropes are as much as 15 metres from the fence to bring the boundary down to the maximum 82m from the centre. In stark contrast, the width across is some 10m below modern standard, with boundaries just 60m out. Picturesque and proud of it, the Adelaide Oval nevertheless desires the charms of the AFL. To become a more practical football oval, renovations already in progress will increase the ground's capacity by 5000 as well as rounding off the western fence to be more oval-shaped. The old red stands will be replaced by a sharp new composite western stand designed to match the existing Chappell stand. Care is being taken to maintain important elements, such as the views, the local flora and the classic scoreboard on the hill. This redevelopment is aimed at the 2010-11 Ashes series and incentivised by the prospect of World Cups in 2015 and 2018.
Weather
Adelaide is very hot and dry, often exposed to the same fire-bearing northerlies as Melbourne. The low lay of the ground and city itself allow breezes to flow in, but they do not tend to provide much assistance, or even respite for the players.
Surface Character
In the words of groundsman Les Burdett, the pitch is designed to take matches to the last session of the last day. It is not a pitch which ever breaks up and while it is felt that it favours spin, it doesn't offer the bounce at Sydney. Accuracy is essential for bowlers as short deliveries are easily carved up, so too anything wide or on the pads. Late in the game, the pitch will become uneven, but the best hope for seam bowlers is if they can master the conditions and produce searing reverse swinging yorkers.
WACA Ground Google Maps
Field
The WACA Ground, established in 1893, was formerly a genuine oval used for both cricket and football and perhaps if it weren't for the footy, it wouldn't have its six 70m tall light towers. As thet AFL took its games to the larger oval at Subiaco, the WACA took the unique move of decreasing the ground's capacity and cutting the square boundaries, not only making room for picturesque hills, but also taking it below regulation size for Australian rules. The playing area is 149m square and 139m straight; with the ropes in, square boundaries are a comfortable 72m and a dead straight drive is just a little longer, around 75m. The longest boundaries are the full regulation 82m to the rope through cover or midwicket. As part of a large scale redevelopment plan for East Perth, the WACA can expect to see greatly upgraded grandstands and a new construction on the western hill, with apartments overlooking the eastern side of the ground in a situation not unlike that at London's Oval.
Weather
Perth has a similar Mediterranean climate to Adelaide, but rain tends to come in the form of furious storms, often remnants of cyclones carried down the coast. Perth weather is also broken up by the Fremantle Doctor, a south-westerly sea breeze that is usually at its strongest during the international cricket season. Due to the low stands and the hills on the sides of the ground, the breeze flows strongly through the ground. It can be of varying benefit to the bowler. It is said that Terry Alderman could swing the Kookaburra for 30 overs. Shane Warne also enjoyed the benefits of drift, though it was not his favourite ground. The breeze can also be too strong, frustrating bowlers and aiding batsmen who hit with the breeze.
Surface Character
What you expect at Perth depends on what sort of Perth you're familiar with. In past ages, it was know for its extreme hardness and cracking would be the chief feature for bowlers to exploit late in the game. In the last decade it has flattened out a bit. Much of the clay had been replaced by sand, making it slower, less likely to crack and also providing a peculiar attraction for spinners. After being relaid, the pitch seems to be in a more traditional space, with a soil of 75% smectite clay. Currently, it's not excitingly fast, with fears that the full fury of the pitch would result in short Test matches. An early season pitch can certainly be a frightful place for batsmen. Nevertheless, teams have still tended to get bowled out cheaply, but mostly due to the odd ball not coming on. In some limited overs games, this uneven bounce has been quite prevalent.
Brisbane Cricket Ground Google Maps
Field
Ensconced by a symmetric triple-tiered ring of seats and a white cloth roof, if the Gabba has lost any rustic charms since 1895, it has at least gained some elegant aesthetics. The field is 170m wide and 150m long, but the centre wickets are not quite aligned with the axes of the oval. In practice, the straight boundary is some 77m when facing the Vulture St end and 82m facing the Stanley St end. Due to the sub-tropical climate, the Gabba can find itself the victim of water damage and fungal infection, but the drainage is superb and these things rarely slow the outfield down.
Weather
Southern Queensland is genuinely subtropical, hot and humid in summer, with ample, sometimes monsoonal rainfall. This often facilitates excellent swing bowling performances, as well as the odd pitch that is underprepared and green. It can nevertheless get sunny enough to produce cracks in the hard Gabba pitch. Winter in Brisbane rivals an English summer and for this reason, the Centre of Excellence each year brings young cricketers from all over the world to Brisbane in the off season.
Surface Character
Resurfacing for the Olympics in 2000 appeared to dull the wicket, but in recent times it has recovered so much venom it rightly threatens the the WACA for the title of fastest pitch in the land and perhaps the greenest in international cricket. Ideally however, it's not meant to be green. Just a little drier and it falls right in the zone of perfection, rewarding spin, seam and bat, that is at least, if you're Australian. The last time the home side lost a Test at Brisbane was in 1988, to a rampant West Indies.
Bellerive Oval Google Maps
Field
With its cosy stands, northern European summers and lack of light towers, one could be forgiven for thinking they had walked into a county ground by accident. The oval is long down the ground at 175m, while 135m across the perpendicular. Although built in 1914, it did not even have turf pitches until 1957! The ground was not one of note until 1977 when the TCA elected to build grandstands and nominate the ground as its new headquarters. Thus, in spite of its low lying and low capacity appearance, the facilities are quite modern. As the TCA are keen to host more ODIs, they are set to install lights with the financial backing of the state government, pending council approval.
Weather
Tasmania's weather is much cooler than the mainland, perhaps resembling English weather. Bellerive is adjacent to the mouth of the Derwent River, a popular area for yachting, so the ground may get some useful breezes, though the southern stand blocks much of it.
Surface Character
Test pitches at Hobart tend to be profitable for batting, particularly later in the game. Like the SCG it can be a little difficult to bat on early and the pitch is generally thought to have good turn and bounce for spinners, but due to the more mild weather, it doesn't run much chance of breaking up. In one dayers, the grey colour of the pitch can be a problem as the ball ends up the same colour.
jkartik
Chairman of Selectors
WOW !!!! i could actually make a separate The Art Of AUSTRALIAN Cricket with so much info !! :hpraise
jkartik
Chairman of Selectors
ofcourse you can, but will you release it?
lol....i've stopped making predictions ! and i'd advice you to do the same !
drainpipe32
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2008
- Online Cricket Games Owned
-
WOW !!!! i could actually make a separate The Art Of AUSTRALIAN Cricket with so much info !! :hpraise
mate id love that, heavily endorsing the idea!!! i reckon if u put in a domestic engine, ans some youth/career programs itd be great!!
jkartik
Chairman of Selectors
*eagerly awaits for someone to mock about the release of this game*
*wheres "bumba26" when you need him ?*
*wheres "bumba26" when you need him ?*
P
pcfan123
Guest
have there been any screen shots or vids of this game? sorry but cant be bothered to search through all the different threads .
jkartik
Chairman of Selectors
well, there are vidz but those are over a year ago.....tremendous amount of progress has been made since then !
wait for 2 more days !!
Bluebagger
International Coach
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2009
- Location
- Sydney
- Online Cricket Games Owned
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- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox 360
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
SCG will usually be a great batting wicket for a one day but always produces a result for a test, cracks opening on day 3 and gets wicked mid-day 4 and day 5. The weather is usually hot since the cricket is usually played in January and February but there is always a chance of rain, maybe 30%.
Brisbane will usually seam on day one and generates true bounce but gets some spin later in the game. It's one of the few true cricket wickets - hard to negotiate early, usually batter friendly on days 2 and 3 and the bolwers are invited back in towards the end. Usually humid conditions with a good chance of a thunderstorm during summer.
Adelaide is a batsman's paradise, high scoring affairs with short boundaries. Usually hot.
Perth is hard but not as quick as it used to be. Good chance of rain during summer. Hot, hot, hot.
Melbourne is a good batting wicket and really doesn't offer much to the bowling. Usually muggy weather.
Hobart is a bit like the MCG but offers swing if the elements are right. Usually cold, rainy but can also be warm on its day.
Brisbane will usually seam on day one and generates true bounce but gets some spin later in the game. It's one of the few true cricket wickets - hard to negotiate early, usually batter friendly on days 2 and 3 and the bolwers are invited back in towards the end. Usually humid conditions with a good chance of a thunderstorm during summer.
Adelaide is a batsman's paradise, high scoring affairs with short boundaries. Usually hot.
Perth is hard but not as quick as it used to be. Good chance of rain during summer. Hot, hot, hot.
Melbourne is a good batting wicket and really doesn't offer much to the bowling. Usually muggy weather.
Hobart is a bit like the MCG but offers swing if the elements are right. Usually cold, rainy but can also be warm on its day.
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