Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report and Match Stats
Covers 97 international matches at this ground from Jan 2003 to Feb 2026.
The Sydney Cricket Ground pitch report starts with a simple habit: captains here want to bat first. Of the 97 internationals played in Sydney, Australia, since Jan 2003, the captain who won the toss batted first 75 times and sent the opposition in only 22 times.
On the men’s side the SCG has staged 48 ODIs, 25 Tests and 19 T20Is, with Australia winning 53 of their 83 men’s fixtures.
SCG Pitch Report: Big First Innings, Harder Chases
Tests at the SCG start big. Opening and reply innings bring 382 and 371 on average, then the match tightens: 247 in the 3rd innings, 203 in the 4th. The largest final-innings chase is 288, and India’s 705/7 from Jan 2004 heads the totals list.
Setting a target has been the better ODI plan. Set aside rain-affected results and ODI sides batting first post 281, while their opponents reach only 218. A chase of 334 has succeeded, and the ten latest ODIs have opened with 306 on average.
T20Is also favour posting a score, 10 wins to 7, with a typical opening score of 170 against 140 in reply. The toss has not decided much: 43 of 84 decided matches went to the team that called right.
Sydney Cricket Ground capacity and location
Capacity as published on the ground's Wikipedia page (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Cricket_Ground). Figures change with redevelopment and temporary stands.
Ground
City
Country
Capacity
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
Sydney
Australia
48,000
Sydney Cricket Ground cricket stats by format
Format
Matches
Won batting first
Won chasing
Avg 1st inns
First match
Latest match
Tests
25
–
–
–
2 Jan 2003
4 Jan 2026
ODIs
48
28
16
276
9 Jan 2003
25 Oct 2025
ODIs (women)
1
0
1
248
12 Dec 2012
12 Dec 2012
T20Is
19
10
7
166
9 Jan 2007
16 Nov 2024
T20Is (women)
4
3
1
150
31 Jan 2016
15 Feb 2026
Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report: Average Scores and Chasing
Matches with a result decided by DLS are left out of this table. The last column shows the most recent ten first innings where there are enough matches.
Format
Matches
Avg 1st inns
Avg 2nd inns
Highest chased
Lowest defended
Avg 1st inns, last 10
ODIs
41
281
218
334
225
306
ODIs (women)
1
248
252
252
–
–
T20Is
16
170
140
200
147
174
T20Is (women)
2
167
131
–
136
–
SCG Test Pitch: Average Score by Innings
Format
Tests
1st inns
2nd inns
3rd inns
4th inns
Highest 4th-inns chase
Tests
25
382
371
247
203
288
Sydney Cricket Ground Tests records
Tests in this record book: 25, from Jan 2003 to Jan 2026.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
SPD Smith Australia
12
21
1,246
138
65.58
57.90
5
7
RT Ponting Australia
10
18
974
169
60.88
66.53
4
4
UT Khawaja Australia
9
16
898
195*
74.83
50.00
4
1
DA Warner Australia
12
20
884
122*
49.11
80.44
4
4
M Labuschagne Australia
8
14
827
215
63.62
56.88
1
6
ML Hayden Australia
8
16
779
123
55.64
65.74
3
3
MEK Hussey Australia
8
13
752
150*
94.00
48.05
3
0
MJ Clarke Australia
9
16
728
329*
48.53
59.87
2
1
SR Tendulkar India
3
6
588
241*
196.00
57.99
2
2
AC Gilchrist Australia
7
11
451
133
41.00
88.43
1
3
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
NM Lyon Australia
14
25
49
5/50
39.20
2.92
2
PJ Cummins Australia
8
15
36
5/61
21.78
2.82
1
MA Starc Australia
11
21
32
3/25
40.94
3.48
0
JR Hazlewood Australia
8
14
30
4/16
21.80
2.30
0
B Lee Australia
7
13
30
5/119
35.87
3.88
1
MG Johnson Australia
6
11
24
4/168
30.12
3.34
0
SM Boland Australia
3
6
21
6/45
13.00
2.17
1
PM Siddle Australia
6
11
21
5/59
28.14
2.98
1
A Kumble India
2
4
20
8/141
26.65
3.46
1
SCG MacGill Australia
4
8
19
5/43
34.42
3.30
1
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
MJ Clarke Australia
329*
468
39
1
India
3 Jan 2012
SR Tendulkar India
241*
436
33
0
Australia
2 Jan 2004
M Labuschagne Australia
215
363
19
1
New Zealand
3 Jan 2020
UT Khawaja Australia
195*
368
19
1
South Africa
4 Jan 2023
CA Pujara India
193
373
22
0
Australia
3 Jan 2019
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
A Kumble India
8/141
46.5
Australia
2 Jan 2004
AR Caddick England
7/94
22
Australia
2 Jan 2003
Mohammad Asif Pakistan
6/41
20
Australia
3 Jan 2010
SM Boland Australia
6/45
16.5
India
3 Jan 2025
SM Katich Australia
6/65
25.5
Zimbabwe
17 Oct 2003
Sydney Cricket Ground Highest Score in Tests
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
India
705/7
187.3
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
2 Jan 2004
Australia
659/4
163
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2012
Australia
649/7
193
England
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
4 Jan 2018
England
644
177.5
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2011
India
622/7
167.2
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2019
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Pakistan
115
43.1
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2024
Australia
127
44.4
Pakistan
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2010
Pakistan
139
38
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Jan 2010
ICC World XI
144
49.5
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
14 Oct 2005
England
147
58
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
2 Jan 2007
Sydney Cricket Ground ODIs records
ODIs in this record book: 48, from Jan 2003 to Oct 2025.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
MJ Clarke Australia
25
25
976
103*
46.48
86.68
1
7
DA Warner Australia
17
17
969
130
57.00
100.00
3
7
SPD Smith Australia
16
16
948
164
59.25
99.06
4
3
RT Ponting Australia
20
20
578
124
30.42
79.18
2
1
AJ Finch Australia
13
13
551
114
42.38
89.74
1
5
ML Hayden Australia
12
12
524
126
47.64
81.24
1
3
SR Watson Australia
12
12
511
82
46.45
100.20
0
5
A Symonds Australia
13
13
496
151
41.33
98.41
1
2
AC Gilchrist Australia
14
14
488
95
37.54
116.19
0
5
RG Sharma India
6
6
454
133
90.80
90.80
2
2
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
B Lee Australia
19
19
30
5/58
25.80
4.86
1
JR Hazlewood Australia
12
12
22
3/43
24.05
5.14
0
NW Bracken Australia
12
12
20
5/47
24.95
5.06
1
A Zampa Australia
9
9
19
4/45
24.63
5.42
0
MA Starc Australia
15
15
16
4/42
37.69
5.62
0
PJ Cummins Australia
8
8
14
3/25
29.57
5.83
0
JP Faulkner Australia
8
8
13
3/47
27.54
5.71
0
SR Watson Australia
12
12
11
2/9
35.27
5.64
0
MG Johnson Australia
9
9
11
3/36
38.18
5.53
0
GD McGrath Australia
5
5
10
3/24
16.10
3.41
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
SPD Smith Australia
164
157
14
4
New Zealand
4 Dec 2016
AB de Villiers South Africa
162*
66
17
8
West Indies
27 Feb 2015
A Symonds Australia
151
127
13
3
Sri Lanka
12 Feb 2006
Yuvraj Singh India
139
122
16
2
Australia
22 Jan 2004
IJL Trott England
137
126
11
0
Australia
2 Feb 2011
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
BA Williams Australia
5/22
8.3
Zimbabwe
11 Jan 2004
Imran Tahir South Africa
5/45
10
West Indies
27 Feb 2015
NW Bracken Australia
5/47
8.3
Sri Lanka
8 Feb 2008
Hasan Ali Pakistan
5/52
10
Australia
22 Jan 2017
B Lee Australia
5/58
9.1
India
24 Feb 2008
SCG Highest Score in ODIs
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
408/5
50
West Indies
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
27 Feb 2015
Australia
389/4
50
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
29 Nov 2020
Australia
376/9
50
Sri Lanka
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
8 Mar 2015
Australia
374/6
50
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
27 Nov 2020
Australia
368/5
50
Sri Lanka
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
12 Feb 2006
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
England
117
41
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
23 Jan 2003
Sri Lanka
125
31.3
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
8 Feb 2008
Zimbabwe
126
37.3
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
11 Jan 2004
Pakistan
127
37.3
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
24 Jan 2010
Sri Lanka
133
37.2
South Africa
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
18 Mar 2015
Sydney Cricket Ground T20Is records
T20Is in this record book: 19, from Jan 2007 to Nov 2024.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
V Kohli India
5
5
298
85
99.33
144.66
0
4
GJ Maxwell Australia
9
9
203
54
25.38
134.44
0
1
SR Watson Australia
2
2
186
124*
–
178.85
1
1
P Nissanka Sri Lanka
4
4
176
73
44.00
125.71
0
2
MS Wade Australia
5
5
157
80
39.25
160.20
0
2
S Dhawan India
4
4
147
52
36.75
167.05
0
1
RG Sharma India
3
3
128
53
42.67
137.63
0
2
GD Phillips New Zealand
3
3
122
104
40.67
148.78
1
0
Babar Azam Pakistan
4
4
121
59*
40.33
123.47
0
2
RR Rossouw South Africa
2
2
116
109
58.00
187.10
1
0
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
A Zampa Australia
9
9
11
3/18
21.09
7.03
0
TA Boult New Zealand
4
4
10
4/13
8.40
5.60
0
JR Hazlewood Australia
3
3
9
4/12
8.33
6.25
0
A Nortje South Africa
2
2
8
4/10
6.38
6.80
0
PWH de Silva Sri Lanka
4
4
8
3/38
14.50
7.25
0
AJ Tye Australia
5
5
7
4/23
26.29
9.36
0
MJ Santner New Zealand
4
4
6
3/31
16.33
7.00
0
TG Southee New Zealand
5
5
6
3/6
16.67
6.32
0
SH Johnson Australia
1
1
5
5/26
5.20
6.50
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi Pakistan
3
3
5
3/14
15.40
7.00
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
SR Watson Australia
124*
71
10
6
India
31 Jan 2016
RR Rossouw South Africa
109
56
7
8
Bangladesh
27 Oct 2022
GD Phillips New Zealand
104
64
10
4
Sri Lanka
29 Oct 2022
DP Conway New Zealand
92*
58
7
2
Australia
22 Oct 2022
V Kohli India
85
61
4
3
Australia
8 Dec 2020
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
SH Johnson Australia
5/26
4
Pakistan
16 Nov 2024
A Nortje South Africa
4/10
3.3
Bangladesh
27 Oct 2022
JR Hazlewood Australia
4/12
4
Sri Lanka
11 Feb 2022
TA Boult New Zealand
4/13
4
Sri Lanka
29 Oct 2022
Haris Rauf Pakistan
4/22
4
Australia
16 Nov 2024
Highest T20I Totals at the SCG
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Australia
221/5
20
England
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
9 Jan 2007
South Africa
205/5
20
Bangladesh
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
27 Oct 2022
India
200/3
20
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
31 Jan 2016
New Zealand
200/3
20
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
22 Oct 2022
Australia
197/5
20
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
31 Jan 2016
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Bangladesh
101
16.3
South Africa
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
27 Oct 2022
Sri Lanka
102
19.2
New Zealand
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
29 Oct 2022
Australia
111
17.1
New Zealand
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
22 Oct 2022
Pakistan
134
19.4
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
16 Nov 2024
Sydney Cricket Ground T20Is (women) records
T20Is in this record book: 4, from Jan 2016 to Feb 2026.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
BL Mooney Australia
4
4
142
75
35.50
121.37
0
1
EA Perry Australia
3
3
82
55*
41.00
141.38
0
1
MM Lanning Australia
2
2
75
49*
75.00
101.35
0
0
SIR Dunkley England
1
1
59
59
59.00
196.67
0
1
P Litchfield Australia
2
2
51
26
25.50
130.77
0
0
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
EA Perry Australia
1
1
4
4/12
3.00
3.00
0
A Reddy India
1
1
4
4/22
5.50
5.50
0
N de Klerk South Africa
1
1
3
3/19
6.33
4.75
0
G Wareham Australia
1
1
3
3/25
8.33
8.33
0
ML Schutt Australia
2
2
3
2/17
17.33
8.67
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
BL Mooney Australia
75
51
11
0
England
20 Jan 2025
SIR Dunkley England
59
30
6
4
Australia
20 Jan 2025
EA Perry Australia
55*
41
4
3
India
31 Jan 2016
MM Lanning Australia
49*
49
4
1
South Africa
5 Mar 2020
L Wolvaardt South Africa
41*
27
3
2
Australia
5 Mar 2020
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
EA Perry Australia
4/12
4
India
31 Jan 2016
A Reddy India
4/22
4
Australia
15 Feb 2026
N de Klerk South Africa
3/19
4
Australia
5 Mar 2020
G Wareham Australia
3/25
3
England
20 Jan 2025
A King Australia
2/14
3
England
20 Jan 2025
Highest totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Australia
198/7
20
England
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
20 Jan 2025
England
141
16
Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
20 Jan 2025
Australia
136/5
20
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
31 Jan 2016
Australia
134/5
20
South Africa
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
5 Mar 2020
Australia
133
18
India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
15 Feb 2026
Sydney Cricket Ground BBL records
BBL matches at this ground: 70, from Dec 2011 to Jan 2026.
SCG BBL Pitch Report
Matches
Avg 1st inns
Avg 2nd inns
Won batting first
Won chasing
Highest chased
Lowest defended
Avg 1st inns, last 10
70
159
143
28
33
198
116
174
Most BBL runs at Sydney Cricket Ground
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
MC Henriques Sydney Sixers
60
60
1,247
76*
27.11
128.29
0
5
JR Philippe SS/PS
40
40
1,091
86*
29.49
138.28
0
9
JC Silk Sydney Sixers
42
42
953
69*
34.04
128.26
0
5
JM Vince SS/ST
27
27
913
101*
41.50
137.71
1
4
SPD Smith Sydney Sixers
19
19
897
125*
69.00
157.92
3
6
NJ Maddinson SS/MS
28
28
734
84*
28.23
136.69
0
4
DP Hughes SS/ST
35
35
719
66*
24.79
120.44
0
5
BJ Haddin Sydney Sixers
13
13
352
76
29.33
135.38
0
3
Most BBL wickets at Sydney Cricket Ground
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
SA Abbott SS/ST
53
53
90
4/11
16.58
8.19
0
BJ Dwarshuis Sydney Sixers
46
46
55
4/17
22.96
8.06
0
SNJ O’Keefe Sydney Sixers
41
41
45
4/10
20.51
6.24
0
TK Curran SS/MS
17
17
23
3/16
21.52
8.51
0
H Kerr Sydney Sixers
21
21
22
2/6
23.00
8.55
0
NM Lyon Sydney Sixers
17
17
19
5/23
22.89
7.39
1
JM Bird SS/MS
17
17
16
3/35
27.44
7.98
0
MA Starc Sydney Sixers
8
8
15
3/28
15.27
7.39
0
Highest BBL Score at the SCG
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
SPD Smith Sydney Sixers
125*
66
5
9
Sydney Thunder
21 Jan 2023
SPD Smith Sydney Sixers
121*
64
10
7
Perth Scorchers
11 Jan 2025
CJ Simmons Perth Scorchers
112
58
4
11
Sydney Sixers
5 Feb 2014
SB Harper Melbourne Stars
110*
60
12
6
Sydney Sixers
26 Dec 2025
DA Warner Sydney Thunder
110*
65
11
4
Sydney Sixers
16 Jan 2026
Highest BBL Totals at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Sydney Sixers
220/3
20
Perth Scorchers
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
11 Jan 2025
Sydney Sixers
213/4
20
Melbourne Stars
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
5 Dec 2021
Hobart Hurricanes
213/2
20
Sydney Sixers
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
11 Dec 2021
Brisbane Heat
209/4
20
Sydney Sixers
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
22 Dec 2019
Perth Scorchers
206/7
20
Sydney Sixers
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
11 Jan 2025
Team results at Sydney Cricket Ground (men, all formats)
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Drawn
Tied/NR
Australia
83
53
17
7
6
India
24
7
12
4
1
England
19
6
12
1
0
Sri Lanka
15
5
8
0
2
New Zealand
12
2
9
0
1
Pakistan
10
2
7
0
1
South Africa
10
4
5
1
0
West Indies
6
0
4
1
1
Zimbabwe
2
0
2
0
0
Bangladesh
1
0
1
0
0
Latest matches at Sydney Cricket Ground
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Australia v India
15 Feb 2026
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
India won by 21 runs (DLS)
England v Australia
4 Jan 2026
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 5 wickets
Australia v India
25 Oct 2025
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
India won by 9 wickets
Australia v England
20 Jan 2025
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 57 runs
India v Australia
3 Jan 2025
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 6 wickets
Australia v Pakistan
16 Nov 2024
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 13 runs
Australia v West Indies
4 Feb 2024
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 83 runs
Pakistan v Australia
3 Jan 2024
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 8 wickets
Australia v South Africa
4 Jan 2023
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Drawn
Australia v England
19 Nov 2022
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia won by 72 runs
Players Who Lead the SCG Lists
No one has more Test runs at the SCG than Steve Smith (Australia), 1,246 at 65.58. The best Test innings belongs to Michael Clarke (Australia), 329 not out against India on 3 Jan 2012, and Clarke also has the most ODI runs here, 976. Sachin Tendulkar (India) made 588 Test runs in just 6 innings. Nathan Lyon (Australia) has 49 Test wickets in Sydney, though Anil Kumble’s 8/141 for India in Jan 2004 are the best figures.
Every visiting side has lost more games here than it has won. For other Australian venues, see the MCG, or the Australia team records.
Big Bash at the SCG: 70 Games of BBL Data
Since 16 Dec 2011, the SCG has hosted 70 BBL games, the latest on 23 Jan 2026. Chasers lead 33 wins to 28, even though first innings average 159 and the reply only 143. Scoring has climbed: the last 10 first innings average 174, and the Sydney Sixers set the BBL high with 220/3 versus Perth Scorchers in Jan 2025. Low totals still win at times, with 116 defended, and Melbourne Stars were bowled out for 61 by the Sixers in Dec 2021.
Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers) leads the runs with 1,247, but Steve Smith (Sixers) stands out: 897 runs at 69.00, three BBL hundreds (the best of them 125*) plus 6 player of the match awards. Sean Abbott has 90 wickets playing for the Sixers and Sydney Thunder. See the Sydney Sixers BBL records and BBL records.
Questions about Sydney Cricket Ground
Is the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch good for batting or bowling?
Runs come easily early in a match: Test sides open with 382 on average and ODI sides with 281. Later the bowlers gain ground, with the 4th Test innings averaging 203 and ODI replies 218, well short of 281.
What is the highest score at the Sydney Cricket Ground?
The biggest total is 705/7 by India in Jan 2004. Michael Clarke made the biggest individual score, 329 not out for Australia against India on 3 Jan 2012. One-day cricket’s peak is 408/5, posted by South Africa against West Indies on 27 Feb 2015.
Which pays at the SCG: setting a total or chasing one?
The numbers favour posting a score. Men’s ODI defences have succeeded 28 times against 16 successful chases. Men’s T20Is tell a similar story: 10 wins batting first, 7 chasing.
Which BBL total is the highest at the SCG?
The Sixers’ 220/3, posted versus Perth Scorchers in Jan 2025, is the top BBL total here. Steve Smith hit the best innings, 125* from 66 balls for the Sixers against Sydney Thunder on 21 Jan 2023.
Is the SCG good for chasing in the BBL?
Slightly. Chasers have won 33 BBL games here and sides batting first 28; teams have reached targets as high as 198, while 116 is the smallest total to be defended.
What is the seating capacity of Sydney Cricket Ground?
Sydney Cricket Ground holds about 48,000 spectators, going by its published capacity. Capacity can change after redevelopment or when temporary stands are added for big events.