Melbourne Cricket Ground        

Jolimont,
Melbourne, Victoria

Records and statistics

Profile

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is regarded as Australia's premier sporting venue. For over one hundred years, it has played host to many of the country's biggest cricket and Australian Rules Football matches, and many other significant sporting contests besides. It was, in fact, even the centrepiece of the Olympic Games of 1956. The 'G (as it is affectionately known by the people of Melbourne) is located a short distance to the east of the city's CBD and is easily accessible by both public transport and by foot; it is common, for example, for business people to walk to the arena after work to watch the second session of day-night cricket internationals. Prior to a series of developments in the 1980s and 1990s, it possessed a capacity of around 125,000; since that time, the extension of individual seating to virtually all of its reaches has reduced that figure to somewhere closer to 97,000. In short, it is an imposing stadium: the three-tiered Great Southern Stand (completed in 1992) bounds the perimeter of one half of the ground and holds close to 50,000 people; there are also vast banks of seating in the Ponsford Stand, Olympic Stand and Members' Reserve. It is also replete with a Gallery of Sport, two giant electronic scoreboards, and a vast array of corporate and media facilities.

Notwithstanding the fact that various curators drew fire from players and spectators alike for producing a succession of wearing, low bouncing surfaces through the 1980s and early 1990s, pitches at the MCG have, for most of its history, generally facilitated well balanced contests between bat and ball. No better has this been exemplified than in famous matches in its recent past such as the 1982-83 Test between Australia and England; the thrilling Australia-New Zealand decider in 1987-88; and the 1992 World Cup Final between Pakistan and England.
Cricinfo staff

Fixtures

2014
Fri Oct 31 - Mon Nov 3	Sheffield Shield Victoria v New South Wales
Fri Nov 7 (20 ovs)	2nd T20I - Australia v South Africa
Fri Nov 7 (20 ovs)	3rd T20I - Australia Women v West Indies Women
Fri Nov 21 (50 ovs)	4th ODI - Australia v South Africa
Tue Nov 25 - Fri Nov 28	Sheffield Shield Victoria v Western Australia
Sat Dec 20 (20 ovs)	Big Bash League Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes
Fri Dec 26 - Tue Dec 30	3rd Test - Australia v India
2015
Mon Jan 5 (20 ovs)	Big Bash League Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers
Sat Jan 10 (20 ovs)	Big Bash League Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades
Fri Jan 16 (50 ovs)	Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series Australia v India
Wed Jan 21 (20 ovs)	Big Bash League Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers
Sat Feb 14 (50 ovs)	ICC Cricket World Cup 2nd Match, Pool A - Australia v England
Sun Feb 22 (50 ovs)	ICC Cricket World Cup 13th Match, Pool B - India v South Africa
Thu Feb 26 (50 ovs)	ICC Cricket World Cup 18th Match, Pool A - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
Thu Mar 19 (50 ovs)	ICC Cricket World Cup 2nd Quarter-Final - TBC v TBC (A2 v B3)
Sun Mar 29 (50 ovs)	ICC Cricket World Cup Final - TBC v TBC
- Day and Night - International Matches - Covered by Cricinfo
No responsibility is taken by Cricinfo for the accuracy of this information.

Latest Articles

• When dad watched Sobers make 252 (Dec 27, 2013)
• MCG hits record crowd (Dec 26, 2013)
• World Cup final returns to Melbourne (Jul 29, 2013)
• Wish I was at the G (May 15, 2013)
• Eugenides and Adorno at the cricket (Mar 15, 2012)

Latest Photos

Dec 26, 2013

The scoreboard at the MCG confirms a record crowd
© AFP

Dec 23, 2013

Monty Panesar hopes to play in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day
© PA Photos

Dec 26, 2012

A view of the MCG
© Getty Images

Dec 27, 2011

A view of the MCG
© Getty Images