Numbers Game - World Cup venues Down Under (Part 1)

The upcoming 2015 World Cup will see four-time champions Australia co-hosting the event along with neighbours New Zealand. This is part one of the series where we take a look at what to expect from the Australian venues for this World Cup.We will see how the teams playing at a particular venue have fared statistically over the years. We will also take a quick look at what happened at these venues during the 1992 World Cup, which was the last time that the marquee event was held on these shores.Two golden rules before you read further:1. We are strictly talking statistics and not form.2. All the numbers consider matches after January 1, 1990 unless specified otherwise.Note: The Manuka Oval, Canberra, has been skipped as only 4 matches have been played at the venue until now.

#1 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Established in 1873, the Adelaide Oval is one of the most picturesque grounds in world cricket. It is a true oval shaped ground with a capacity of 32,000.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool B - India v Pakistan

Pool A - Bangladesh v England

Pool B - Ireland v Pakistan

Knockout stage:

3rd Quarter Final - TBC v TBC (A3 v B2)

What to expect:

Teams, which win the toss, generally tend to bat first at Adelaide considering the batting-friendly conditions at the Adelaide Oval. Statistics, however, show that the teams batting first have lost more often than not - 27 out of 50 matches have been lost by the team which has batted first.

England have one of the worst records here, having lost 7 out of the 10 matches played at the venue. They would be pleased then that they have a relatively easy fixture during the World Cup, against Bangladesh on March 9.

India’s record isn’t that bad at Adelaide, having won 5 and tied 1 out of 10 matches while Pakistan have lost six out of nine matches. Also considering the fact that India have never ever lost to Pakistan in the World Cup, it would be fair to say that the Indians hold the statistical edge going into their crucial opening match on February 15.

Adelaide has one of the truest pitches in Australia. It is a ground where straight sixes are a rarity and the runs are mostly scored square of the wicket. This pitch supports fast bowlers that can maintain a speed of above 140 km/h consistently. Bret Lee, being the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets, is a testimony to that.

Previous World Cup stats:

The 1992 World Cup game between Pakistan and England at Adelaide was washed out, eventually helping Pakistan go through to the semifinals. After all, Pakistan were bowled out for a meagre 74 and in danger of bowing out of the tournament with a heavy thumping before the rain gods intervened. Ironically, it was England that they went on to beat to lift the World Cup trophy.

The match between India and South Africa at this venue was also reduced to a 30-over game due to rain, with South Africa coming out on top in the end.

The only match where the full quota of overs was played was between Sri Lanka and Australia and turned out to be a low-scoring affair. Hosts Australia, chasing a target of 190, reached home comfortably as they chased down the target in just 44 overs.

Even though the overall run rate at the ground since 1990 is 4.71, a number which has risen to 5.01 since 2010, this ground is yet to see a score of above 200 in a World Cup encounter. Perhaps, that will change this time around.

Rain, rain, stay away, we have a World Cup to play.

#2 The Gabba, Brisbane

The Gabba, Brisbane, was established in the year 1895 and has a capacity of approximately 40,000. The name of the ground originated from the fact that it is situated in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba, shortened as “The Gabba”.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool A - Australia v Bangladesh

Pool B - Ireland v United Arab Emirates

Pool B - Pakistan v Zimbabwe

What to expect:

This is predominantly a ‘Win toss - bat first’ ground. Since 1990, the team that has won the toss has chosen to bat first on 70% of the occasions and have won 60% of the matches.

Recently, the run rates have been on the rise at this venue. The matches after 2010 have seen a run rate of 5.31 as compared to 4.75 from 1990 to 2010. We can expect some high scoring games here this time, especially the one between Australia and Bangladesh if the hosts happen to bat first.

Australia have won 12 out of 16 matches played at the Gabba and can be expected to continue their good record against a weak Bangladesh.

It is going to be really tough for Zimbabwe to beat Pakistan at this venue. Pakistan have won 50% of their matches here while Zimbabwe, having lost all 4 matches, are yet to open their account. The odds are even tougher for Zimbabwe when you consider the fact that the Zimbabwe of yesteryear were much better than the current outfit.

Although the Gabba is known as one of the fastest and bounciest tracks in Australia, it is also one of those tracks that offers help to the leg-spinners providing them with some extra bounce, illustrated by the success Shane Warne had during his career. It won’t be a bad idea, then, for those teams who have a leg-spinner in their squad to go ahead and play them.

Previous World Cup Stats:

Like Adelaide, rain has been a spoiler at the Gabba as well. In the 1992 World Cup, two matches were curtailed by rain out of the three that were played at this venue.

In one of those matches, Pakistan were well on course to beat South Africa after restricting them to 211 until Jonty manufactured one of the greatest run-outs in the history of World Cups. Pakistan lost the match by 20 runs after being asked to chase a revised total of 194 in 36 overs.

The Gabba was also witness to a World Cup classic between India and Australia. The match, better remembered for debutant Ajay Jadeja pulling off a blinder to dismiss Allan Border, was lost by India by just one run in the final over after the match had been shortened by 3 overs due to rain.

#3 Bellerive Oval, Hobart

The Bellerive Oval, a relatively smaller ground with a capacity of around 16,000, is situated on the eastern shore of the Derwent River. This is a longer and narrower oval than the MCG.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool B - Ireland v Zimbabwe

Pool A - Scotland v Sri Lanka

Pool A - Australia v Scotland

What to expect:

Hobart is a relatively new ground, having first hosted an ODI in 1988. It has hosted a relatively less number of ODIs - 30 since 1990 - compared to other Australian venues.

Apart from the Pool B clash between Ireland and Zimbabwe which could be a humdinger, the other two fixtures should be relatively smooth sailing, with both Australia and Sri Lanka taking on minnows Scotland.

The wickets at Hobart provide bowlers with some early movement, but the pitch tends to become easier for batting as the match progresses. The ground has seen runs being scored at a relatively high run rate of 5.63 since 2010. We can expect some high scoring matches at this venue. After all, this was the very ground where Virat Kohli scored a blistering century to help India chase down a target of 320 within 40 overs a few years ago.

Previous World Cup Stats:

Hobart got to host only a couple of matches in the 1992 World Cup. Zimbabwe featured in and lost both of them, against Australia and Pakistan while chasing totals in excess of 250.

Zimbabwe are playing at Hobart this time too. They have a chance to redeem themselves by winning against an evenly-matched Irish team.

Like Zimbabwe in 1992, Scotland are playing two matches at Hobart this time. They can only hope against hope not to replicate Zimbabwe's performance at this venue.

With biggies battling minnows at the ground known for big scores, there is a very good chance of tall scores being achieved at the ground during the marquee event.

#4 WACA, Perth

A ground well known for possessing quick and bouncy tracks; the WACA hosted its first Test match in 1970-71. It has a capacity of around 22,000.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool B - India v United Arab Emirates

Pool A - Australia v Afghanistan

Pool B - India v West Indies

What to expect:

The WACA has traditionally provided a huge dilemma for captains as far as the toss is concerned. After all, out of the 51 matches played at this venue since 1990, almost 60% of the matches were lost by the team that won the toss.

From an Indian perspective, in particular, the WACA holds a lot of importance as they play two of their group matches in the World Cup at this venue – against West Indies and UAE. While the clash against the UAE shouldn’t pose too many problems, the same perhaps cannot be said about the West Indies game.

India have lost 5 out of the 10 matches they have played here while the West Indies have lost 5 out of 9. Statistically speaking, the clash between these two teams looks pretty even.

Australia, meanwhile, have won twice as much as they have lost at this venue in 31 matches and should be able to overcome minnows Afghanistan with consummate ease.

The pitch at the WACA has historically been a fast bowler’s paradise. The ground has a bowling average of 27.15, which is the lowest, in comparison to the other Australian World Cup venues, since 1990.

As expected, the good bowling attacks in the world have enjoyed a good record at this venue, with South Africa, Pakistan and England having win percentages of 80%, 66% and 60%, respectively.

Previous World Cup Stats:

The 3 matches played here in the 1992 World Cup were all low scoring events by today’s standards, with 236 being the highest score during the tournament, which was by England against India. Also, as many as 50 wickets fell in those 3 matches at an average of 25.66.

Pakistan played and won two matches at this venue, against Australia and Sri Lanka. India would want to replicate that by winning both of their matches at the WACA in this World Cup.

Although this is a deck which helps fast bowlers, teams batting first managed to play their full quota of 50 overs on each occasion in the 1992 World Cup and the teams chasing managed to survive at least 45 overs. Since 2000, a run rate of 5 has been maintained at the WACA, which reaffirms It remains a good ground to score if you get in. Possibility of upsets would be the key thing to look forward at this venue.

#5 Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of the most famous cricketing venues in the world with a capacity of around 40,000.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool B - South Africa v West Indies

Pool A - Australia v Sri Lanka

Pool A - Afghanistan v England

Knockout Stage:

1st Quarter-Final - TBC v TBC (A1 v B4)

2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC

What to expect:

SCG is only of two venues in this World Cup, the other being the MCG, which will get to host five matches. It has hosted a total of 85 ODIs since 1990, which is the highest among Australian venues.

Australia have won 70% of the matches that they have played at this venue. Sri Lanka, who Australia will be facing in one of the group stage games, don’t have too bad a record at the ground either, having won 50% of the matches they have played here. The Lankans have the highest run-rate (5.48) here, closely followed by Australia at 5.02. It is going to be a good contest between Australia and Sri Lanka, then, with no particular starting as the clear favourites.

England, who will take on Afghanistan, have lost 68% of the matches at the SCG. Naturally then, they would be relieved that they will only be playing Afghanistan at this venue during the group stages. If they aspire to progress to the latter stages of the World Cup, though, they will have to drastically improve their record at the venue.

Uncharacteristically, South Africa have lost 9 out of 13 games at the SCG while West Indies have won 10 out of 13 matches that they have played at the SCG. If stats are anything to go by, there is every chance of an upset here.

Like the MCG, it is a ground where the toss does not hold too much significance, illustrated by the win/loss ratio being 50-50 for the team winning the toss at this venue.

Previous World Cup Stats:

The 1992 World Cup witnessed some low-scoring classics at the SCG. The run rate at this ground has been on the lower side at 4.20, compared to an overall run rate of 4.71, since 1990.

The famous India-Pakistan World Cup encounter in 1992 took place on this ground, with India eventually coming out on top, courtesy of an all-round performance by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.

The SCG, however, did not prove to be a lucky ground for Australia in the tournament, despite a good overall record at this venue. The Aussies were thumped in both their matches against South Africa and England by 9 and 8 wickets, respectively, after scoring 170 odd in both the matches. Sri Lanka, possessing a few quality spinners, will fancy their chances against Australia then.

The most infamous match that was played here was the 1992 semifinals between South Africa and England, which the Proteas lost due to the dubious rain rule that existed at that point in time. It was due to this game that the D/L method, which is an integral part of world cricket today in case of rain intervening, was developed to eradicate the flaws in the old system.

Hopefully, the SCG will continue to provide entertainment while avoiding controversies in World Cup 2015.

#6 Melbourne Cricket Ground

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with a capacity of 1,00,000, is considered to be Australia’s foremost sporting venue. Unsurprisingly, then, they have been granted the honour of hosting the final of the upcoming Cricket World Cup, on March 29.

Schedule

League stage:

Pool A - Australia v England

Pool B - India v South Africa

Pool A - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka

Knockout Stage:

2nd Quarter-final - TBC v TBC (A2 v B3)

World Cup final - TBC v TBC

What to expect:

Although teams generally want to bat first at the MCG, it is one of those grounds where the toss doesn’t really matter. Teams winning the toss have batted first on 62 occasions out of the 77 matches at this venue since 1990, but the success ratio of the teams batting first is only 50%.

Australia, who play their opening World Cup match against England at the MCG, have won over 70% of the matches that they have played at the venue, which is no mean feat considering they have played 66 matches here.

India, meanwhile, have lost 6 out of the 8 games at the MCG. Considering that the Indians are playing an imposing South African side at this venue, the Indians will have to make significant improvements in order to realise their aim of defending the World Cup title.

South Africa, on the other hand, have won 7 out of the 9 matches that they have played at this venue. Statistically, it would be fair to say that South Africa are favourites to come out on top against India.

Statistics also suggest that this is not a very good ground for both England and Sri Lanka, both of whom have lost about 60% of the matches played at this venue. With that being the case, it is going to be very difficult for England to beat Australia in the opening encounter.

Sri Lanka, however, should have no issue this time around as they will be facing Bangladesh, who, with due respect, do not have the armoury to topple the Lankans.

Previous World Cup Stats:

The 1992 World Cup final was also held the MCG, with Pakistan emerging triumphant over England by 22 runs. It is all set to witness another final on March 29.

Ironically, Pakistan started their quest for the World Cup on this very ground, losing to the West Indies by 10 wickets after scoring 220 in their allotted 50 overs.

The 249 runs that were scored by Pakistan in the final is the highest score on this ground in World Cups. Considering the rise in run rate - 5.42 after 2010 compared to 4.5 in the two previous decades - that record is more likely to be broken.

West Indies, a pretty decent team back then, were bundled out under 160 runs twice on this ground in the league stages of the 1992 World Cup, against England and Australia.

In comparison to other venues in Australia which hosted the 1992 edition, the ground has the highest average runs per wicket (35.54). It, however, has also seen the most number of wickets in the World Cup (59).

Unlike other Australian venues, Melbourne has never seen a World Cup match curtailed by rain. The ground presents an even contest between bat & ball and the toss does not decide the fate of the game.

Truly, a ground worthy of hosting the World Cup final.