An icon by any other name
Home to a galaxy of cricketing stars, Sydney is ready to shine again
Modernised in recent years but still sporting the idyllic Ladies Pavilion stand, the Sydney Cricket Ground has historically been a very spin-friendly wicket. This has changed in recent years, as the pitches have been much harder, with a bit more pace in them. The odd greentop has been produced for Test matches, but expect a fairly even contest between bat and ball for the World Cup.
Australia v England, Benson & Hedges World Series, 1987
Needing 18 runs off the last six balls of the match from Bruce Reid, Allan Lanb thought to himself: "Six balls is not enough of a challenge, I'll do it in five". He promptly did so, hitting the winning runs with a boundary and scooting off the ground quicker than a five-year-old who just stole the last biscuit from the jar.
This was not as much of a great match as an infamous one. With 13 balls remaining in the match, South Africa needed 22 to win. Then the rain hit for a mere 12 minutes, but as far as South Africa were concerned that was an eternity. Upon resumption the target was "reduced" to 21 runs from one ball. It was the first of a series of ignominious ends to World Cup campaigns for South Africa.
This was the original "Michael Bevan steers Australia home from a totally unwinnable position" match. Complete with Bevan hitting a boundary off the last ball to get Australia home, and Bill Lawry getting so excited in the commentary box that he sounded like the squeaky-voiced teenager from The Simpsons.
Most runs Allan Border, 1561 runs at 28.90 | Top score Andrew Symonds, 151 v Sri Lanka
Most wickets Glenn McGrath, 50 wickets at 18.30 | Best bowling Greg Chappell 5 for 15 v India
Having produced so many transcendental players, it is no surprise that New South Wales has dominated the Sheffield Shield. Since its inception in 1892, they have won the competition a record 46 times. Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League also call the SCG home. Sixers won the inaugural franchised edition of the competition in pink blaze of glory back in 2012.
Richie Benaud | Michael Bevan | Don Bradman | Michael Clarke | Alan Davidson | Glenn McGrath | Arthur Morris | Bob Simpson | Mark Taylor | Mark Waugh | Steve Waugh
Lee McDonald is a part-time cricket podcaster and a full-time cricket lover from Perth. @thecutshot