England up against their 'worst venue'

There's been a lot of fuss about Muttiah Muralitharan's controversial run-out in the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka ... but this isn't about that. New Zealand's five-wicket win at Christchurch ended a victory-drought at the Jade Stadium, formerly known as Lancaster Park. A stirring run-chase against Pakistan in February 1994 was the last time New Zealand won a Test at Christchurch and in the 12 years since; they had lost four and drawn three.

The Jade Stadium, however, isn't New Zealand's most barren home venue. Napier's McLean Park takes that honour because New Zealand haven't won a Test there yet. Rain played the lead role in three of the four draws and the only result has been Sri Lanka's 241-run triumph in 1995. This week's List is on how teams have fared at particular home and away venues and we've calculated the ground percentages by excluding drawn Tests.

Worst record at a ground by a home team - Tests (qualification: 5 matches excluding draws)

Team	Span	P	W	D	L	%
Bangladesh	2000-2005	9	0	2	7	0.0
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Zimbabwe	1994-2005	17	1	7	9	10.0
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Bangladesh	2001-2005	8	1	0	7	12.5
MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Zimbabwe	1992-2005	26	5	8	13	27.7
Harare Sports Club
New Zealand	1930-2006	40	8	16	16	33.3
Jade Stadium, Christchurch
India	1956-1965	9	2	3	4	33.3
Nehru Stadium, Madras
Sri Lanka	1983-2006	19	5	5	9	35.7
Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy
New Zealand	1930-2006	47	9	23	15	37.5
Eden Park, Auckland
India	1974-2005	16	4	6	6	40.0
Karnataka State C.A. Stadium, Bangalore
South Africa	1889-2006	40	13	8	19	40.6
Newlands, Cape Town

The Ashes caravan rolls into Perth on Thursday and England have to win - or at least draw - the third Test to keep the Ashes alive. The odds are stacked against them, for among grounds at which they've played a minimum of five Tests, Perth is their worst venue. England have played ten Tests at the WACA, lost six and won only one. The loss percentage of 60 is their highest among all grounds. Moreover, England have lost their last four matches at the WACA by nine wickets , 329 runs , seven wickets and an innings and 48 runs.

As for Australia, the National Stadium in Karachi is their worst touring destination where they've lost five of their eight Tests. They did come within a wicket of winning in 1994 but Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed added 57 runs for the last wicket to snatch victory.

Worst record at a ground by a away team - Tests (qualification: 5 matches excluding draws)

Team	Span	P	W	D	L	%
South Africa	1907-2003	12	0	7	5	0.0
Kennington Oval, London
India	1953-2002	8	0	1	7	0.0
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Australia	1956-1998	8	0	3	5	0.0
National Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan	1979-2004	5	0	0	5	0.0
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
India	1932-2002	14	1	3	10	9.0
Lord's, London
South Africa	1910-2006	10	1	2	7	12.5
Sydney Cricket Ground
New Zealand	1931-2004	14	1	7	6	14.2
Lord's, London
India	1953-2006	10	1	3	6	14.2
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
England	1970-2002	10	1	3	6	14.2
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
West Indies	1931-2001	14	2	2	10	16.6
Sydney Cricket Ground

Karachi, in fact, has been a Pakistani fortress over the decades. Of the first 34 Tests played at the National Stadium, Pakistan won 17 and lost none. England inflicted their first defeat - by six wickets - in the fading light in December 2000 and won their first series in Pakistan for nearly 40 years. However, normal service has resumed since then with Pakistan winning the next four matches at Karachi.

Best record at a ground by a home team - Tests (qualification: 5 matches excluding draws)

Team	Span	P	W	D	L	%
Australia	1989-2005	7	5	2	0	100.0
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Pakistan	1955-2006	39	21	17	1	95.4
National Stadium, Karachi
South Africa	1995-2006	11	8	2	1	88.8
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Australia	1931-2006	49	29	11	8	77.6
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
England	1902-2006	42	22	13	7	75.8
Edgbaston, Birmingham
West Indies	1930-2005	43	21	15	7	75.0
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sri Lanka	1998-2004	11	6	3	2	75.0
Galle International Stadium
Australia	1970-2005	33	19	7	7	73.0
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
West Indies	1930-2006	42	21	13	8	72.4
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
New Zealand	1991-2004	13	5	6	2	71.4
Seddon Park, Hamilton

West Indies had an outstanding record at the WACA when it was fast and furious. They won their first five Tests by massive margins- the smallest being 169 runs - during the peaks of their pace-bowling prowess. Considerably weakened at the turn of the 21st century, West Indies lost their first Test at Perth in December 2000.

Best record at a ground by a away team - Tests (qualification: 5 matches excluding draws)

Team	Span	P	W	D	L	%
Australia	1902-2006	10	9	0	1	90.0
Newlands, Cape Town
England	1930-2002	15	8	6	1	88.8
Jade Stadium, Christchurch
England	1889-2004	9	5	3	1	83.3
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
West Indies	1975-2000	6	5	0	1	83.3
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
England	1930-2002	15	4	10	1	80.0
Eden Park, Auckland
England	1923-2004	14	4	9	1	80.0
Kingsmead, Durban
Australia	1884-2005	34	15	14	5	75.0
Lord's, London
West Indies	1957-2004	8	4	2	2	66.6
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Australia	1955-2003	7	4	1	2	66.6
Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana
England	1889-2005	18	9	4	5	64.2
Newlands, Cape Town