T20 World Cup 2022: Profiling 5 prominent venues of T20 World Cup

By Indraneel Chakrabarty: The eighth edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 is just around the corner, and buzz over the clash among the best in the business is already skyrocketing. The journey, which started in South Africa in 2008 with India clinching the inaugural edition, has now reached Australia as the host and defending champions will get a golden opportunity to defend the title in front of a home crowd on November 13, 2022, at Melbourne Cricket Stadium.

The month-long ICC tournament featuring 16 teams will kick start on October 16 at Simonds Stadium in Geelong, with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia. In this article, we look at details, history, capacity and interesting trivias related to the five most prominent venues which are regarded as the best cricket grounds in Australia and will be the centre of attraction during the T20 World Cup 2022.

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Besides its popularity among cricketing aficionados, the ground also plays hosts to Ozzie footie better known as Australian Rules Football (since 1877), the Rugby League (1997-1998), besides a slew of other sports, like – archery, athletics, baseball, among others. The scenic ground is nestled across a magnificent backdrop of glorious gardens and swaying trees. Having hosted a total of 8 T20Is, the teams chasing have a slight edge having won 4 games versus teams defending a total (3).

Location: War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide, South Australia

Established: 1871

Capacity: 53,500

Owner: South Australian Government

Operator: Adelaide Oval SMA Ltd.

Matches: 

B1 vs A2 (2^nd Nov 2022) 1430h

BAN vs IND (2^nd Nov 2022) 1830h (Night)

NZL vs B2 (4^th Nov 2022) 1430h

AFG vs AUS (4^th Nov 2022) 1830h (Night)

SA vs A2 (6^th Nov 2022) 1030h

BAN vs PAK (6^th Nov 2022) 1830h (Night)

2^nd Semi-Final (10^th Nov 2022) 1830h (Night)

Trivia: The first football game lit by electric light was played here, with Siemens manufactured lamps.

Venue: Brisbane Cricket Ground (aka the Gabba)

The Gabbatoir’s magetic attraction stems from its global acclaim as one of the best cricketing wickets globally. Established in 1895, the Gabba, like Adelaide, has played host to several significant events besides cricket – The AFL, baseball,  Olympic soccer, rugby and major sell-out concerts. The 6 T20Is hosted reflect a scorecard favouring the side batting first (4), versus those chasing (2).

Location: Woolloongabba, Queensland

Established: 1895

Capacity: 36,000

Owner: Queensland Government

Operator: Stadiums Queensland

Matches: 

AUS vs B2 (31^st Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

AFG vs A1 (1^st Nov 2022) 1400h

ENG vs NZL (1^st Nov 2022) 1800h (Night)

BAN vs B1 (30^th Oct 2022) 1300h

Trivia: First ground to host an international T20 match in was played at the Gabba on 9^th Jan 2006 (Aus Vs S.Afr).

Venue: Perth Stadium (now Optus Stadium)

Not to be confused with its more illustrious sibling – the WACA, the Optus is a fairly new stadium having hosted just 2 T20I games. AFL and rugby, a staple for Australia’s much reputed sporting culture, too finds a home at the Optus besides being the venue for popular sell-out concerts.

Location: Burswood, Western Australia

Established: 2018

Capacity: 60-70,000

Owner: Government of Western Australia

Operator: VenuesLive

Matches: 

AFG vs ENG (22^nd Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

AUS vs A1 (25^th Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

PAK vs B1 (27^th  Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

PAK vs A2 (30^th  Oct 2022) 1500h

IND vs SA (30^th  Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

Trivia: The Optus Stadium is the most expensive stadium in Australia, built at a cost of A$ 1.6 billion.

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (aka MCG)

The MCG’s 22-yards bears a reputation of being one of the most competitive surfaces in the cricketing world. Offering a fine balance between bat and ball, while it assists bowlers gain some purchase early with mostly genuine bounce, as it wears down, the batter can let loose their array of strokes unhindered, favouring chases. Sides batting second have tasted success 9 times versus 5 for teams defending a total. It, however, doesn’t smile upon spinners a lot.

Location: East Melbourne, Victoria

Established: 1853

Capacity: 100,024

Owner: Government of Victoria

Operator: Melbourne Cricket Club

Matches: 

IND vs PAK (23^rd Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

BAN vs A2 (24^th Oct 2022) 1500h

ENG vs B2 (26^th  Oct 2022) 1500h

AFG vs NZL (26^th  Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

AFG vs B2 (28^th  Oct 2022) 1500h

ENG vs AUS (28^th  Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

IND vs B1 (6^th  Nov 2022) 1900h (Night)

Final (13^th Nov 2022) 1900h (Night)

Trivia: It is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere.

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground (aka SCG)

This is one Australian ground which makes spinners gleam fiendishly at the prospect of bowling on it. The wicket’s T20I report-card is loaded in favour of sides chasing (5 times out of 9), with 3 successful defenses being achieved besides a no-result, in the total of  9 T20I games the venue has hosted. 

Location: East Melbourne, Victoria

Established: 1848

Capacity: 48,000

Owner: Government of New South Wales

Operator: Sydney Cricket Ground Trust

Matches: 

BAN vs SA (27^th  Oct 2022) 1400h

AUS vs NZL (22^nd Oct 2022) 1800h (Night)

NZL vs A1 (29^th Oct 2022) 1900h (Night)

PAK vs SA (3^rd Nov 2022) 1900h (Night)

ENG vs A1 (5^th Nov 2022) 1900h (Night)

1^st Semi-Final (9^th Nov 2022) 1830h (Night)

Trivia: Australia’s oldest cricket ground and the world’s 4^th oldest cricket ground.