Best ground in Australia

[Paoli]

What do you think the best Test cricket ground is in Australia?

[Zainub]

The Adelaide Oval is the most beautiful one - I love the hilly spots, it's nice to see the organisers have retained the natural flavor of the ground by not replacing those areas with plastic seats, this is something that's rapidly changing else where in the world and even Australia. The new Chapel stands are quite marvelous as well. And there's something that fascinates me about the wild life down there in South Australia. I love those birds that flock there – they add to the warm, natural feel of the ground.

But if you're looking for atmosphere and grandiosity then the MCG is probably second to none. And when the renovation is going to be complete I guess it's only going to get better, I'm sure it's capacity is easily around the 100,000 mark, confirmation anyone?

My least like ground in Australia is the Wacca – Pakistan’s (dismal) record there has something (read: everything) to do with this.

[Paoli]

MCG is 80,000 at the moment, but yes Zainub, it'll be about 100,000 when its renovations are done.

Personally, I think it is the MCG; it is by far the best cricket ground in Australia. But I can understand why one would choose the Adelaide Oval.

[Rachael]

Given the tendency for the majority of Aussie pitches to err too much in favour of the batsmen... I'd go for whichever would be most likely to appeal to the likes of Hoggard and Gillespie: probably means Perth. If there's a single ground in Australia that would appeal to Ashley Giles I'd change my tune pretty quickly.. but as Australia has long been a terrible place for finger spinners.... I'm not sure there'd even be a candidate!

[Zainub]

I don't think I considered the type of wicket a ground has when I voted in this pole, or generally speaking whenever I would think about my favorite grounds, I'd think about the wicket after things like atmosphere and architecture, this appeal to a nature-savvy person like me. Some grounds in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies and parts of Northern India for instance have either too bowling friendly or too batting friendly pitches, but the natural beauty that surrounds them and the atmosphere they generate makes them very pleasant a place to watch cricket at.

[acker]

Big Crowd and Hot Summers night....MCG 50 over day/nighter , it does'nt get any better than that.

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

What do you think the best Test cricket ground is in Australia?

Is there any chance of posting links to views of the grounds?

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Ram

Is there any chance of posting links to views of the grounds?

Here you go Phantom.


Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jolimont, Melbourne, Victoria



W.A.C.A. Ground, East Perth, Perth, Western Australia


Bundaberg Rum Stadium, Cairns, Queensland




Next three grounds coming in the next post, and the remaining 2 coming in the post after that.

[Paoli]

Yes Zainub's right. I meant the ground in terms of architecture etc, not the pitch. acker summed up the MCG, although you could also say, sleepless, drunk, bloated on Boxing Day rocking up for the first day of the test.

[Zainub]

Marrara Cricket Ground, Marrara, Darwin, Northern Territory





Bellerive Oval, Bellerive, Hobart, Tasmania





Sydney Cricket Ground, MoorePark, Sydney, New South Wales