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Venue Talk: Melbourne Cricket Ground



Match 03: Bangladesh vs Srilanka _ 26 February
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Location: Jolimont, Melbourne, Victoria
 Established 1854
Capacity 100000 (approx, including standing room)
Playing area 172.9m long, 147.8m wide
Floodlights Since March 1985
End names: Members End, Great Southern Stand End
Home teams: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne Stars
Curator in charge: David Sandurski

MCG could be termed as the colosseum of cricket, hosting the first ever ODI in history between Australia and England in 1971. With a capacity of approximately a hundred thousand, MCG is a record ODI hosting venue with 140 matches being played.

Bangladesh will be facing Sri Lanka in their third Pool-A World Cup match on February 26 2015 at this very ground. It would be the first time that Bangladesh would play at the premier sporting venue of Australia.

Mark Waugh famously scored the highest individual runs at this ground with 173. The best bowling figures in ODI’s at this ground is held by Indian speedster Ajit Agarkar, with 6/42.

The highest team total at MCG is 344, scored by World XI against Asia XI.

This ground has hosted 5 World Cup matches in 1992, including the unforgettable final between Pakistan and England.

MCG, having historically produced fast and bouncy pitches since its debut had been criticized during the 1990’s for producing slow and low ones for a change, but in the recent past, there has been a balance of dominance in terms of bat and ball, with regards to the nature of the MCG pitches that produces sporting wickets.

The average runs per over at the MCG of 4.47 throughout the 140 matches played speaks little of the evolution of cricket and the pace at which runs are being scored at contemporary times. For a cricket neutral, and especially for the Bangladesh fans, it would be a treat to be part of a unique experience at the MCG, when at full capacity and lit for the big game.

MCG has hosted host Australia's curtain raiser of the ICC World Cup 2015 against England on 14 February which was a run-feast for the Aussies. They posted a score well over 300 batting first and restricted England to win the match by more than a 100-run margin. 


With Bangladesh well-placed to make it to the quarter finals after a win with Afghanistan and a point shared with Australia, a run-fest is expected at MCG when the Tigers go face to face with the Lankan Lions. A win for both teams would be crucial in their progress past the group stages.