Adelaide Oval Stadium: Pitch Report – Bowling and Batting, Records & Stats

Adelaide Oval is a historic cricket and multi-sport venue in Adelaide, South Australia. It was established in 1871, making it one of Australia’s oldest sporting grounds. The ground has been a major venue for international cricket since the 1880s. Adelaide Oval stands as a monument to Australian cricketing heritage spanning more than a century.

Key Facts About Adelaide Oval

The ground is located in the Adelaide Parklands, surrounded by trees and open space. It is used for Test and ODI and T20I and Big Bash and domestic matches. The venue also regularly hosts Australian Rules football, rugby and soccer, and concerts. Adelaide Oval is known for its iconic heritage scoreboard and modern grandstands following redevelopment.

Redevelopment took place around 2012 to 2014, transforming the ground into a modern facility. The ground regularly attracts large crowds, with over fifty-six thousand spectators. The record crowd was during the Ashes Test when England toured Australia for cricket’s oldest rivalry.

Pitch Report for Bowling and Batting

General Nature of the Pitch

Adelaide Oval usually offers a fair competition between bat and ball during a match. With the new ball at the start of the match, pace bowlers can get a bounce and seam movement. The surface helps fast bowlers to get set up against batsmen who are struggling initially.

As the innings progresses and the batsmen get set up, it becomes easier to score consistently on the surface. The pitch flattens out allowing batsmen to play their shots with confidence and timing. Batsmen who get through the first hour can make big innings on this surface.

The fast outfield and relatively short square boundaries help stroke play and high scoring. Once the batsmen reach the middle properly on this ground, the ball runs towards the boundary. This is especially true in the limited overs format where boundaries are important for the total score.

Spinners come into play in the middle overs, especially in ODI cricket under lights. They can gain some purchase when the ball softens and loses its shine. Spinners must rely on more variety than the natural curve from the pitch surface.

Format-Wise Behaviour

Test Cricket at Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Oval often sees competitive scores with batsmen enjoying a consistent advantage of real bounce. The flat deck helps batsmen to score runs freely once the pitch settles. Batsmen can rely on the bounce and play shots from the crease with confidence.

The average first innings score here in Test cricket is around 377 runs. This suggests that the pitch provides excellent batting conditions for teams batting first in Adelaide. Bowlers use the wear and tear on the surface to reduce their totals in the later innings.

Teams that score more than 400 runs in their first innings in Adelaide often post first innings scores. The first and second sessions of the day are important for batsmen to cash in properly. After the third day, there is more opportunity for bowlers as the pitch gradually deteriorates over time.

One Day Internationals

The balanced conditions encourage teams to make totals in the mid-200s. If teams bat their fifty overs they can even make scores in excess of 300. The pitch allows for stroke play while giving the bowlers something to play with the new ball.

The bowlers are still coming into the game so chasing teams have won many matches in Adelaide. Chasing teams often find success if they get a consistent good start here in the Powerplay overs. The balance between bat and ball makes for competitive ODI cricket at this venue.

T20Is and Big Bash League

This pitch supports high scoring with the average first innings score often in the 170 range. Teams batting first here can usually score in the mid-170s to mid-180s. If batsmen time it right with quick boundaries on this pitch they can score freely.

Power hitters enjoy a true bounce which allows them to hit from the line. The pitch does not offer excessive pace or bounce which makes the overall time for the batsmen easier. Short square boundaries help batsmen to clear the ropes regularly in T20 cricket.

Records and Statistics at Adelaide Oval

Test Cricket Records

In 1948, Australia posted the highest team score of 674 for 10 against India. Australia batted with patience and power to post such a big Test score at Adelaide. This innings is the highest score ever in Test cricket at this ground.

In 2020, India posted the lowest team score of 36 for 10 against Australia. India were completely unable to cope with Australia’s pace bowling which was at a level that suited them. This is the lowest score ever in Test cricket at Adelaide Oval.

Australia had their most successful Test chase of 315 for 6 against England. Australia chased this target with excellent batting depth and determination under pressure. This is the highest fourth innings chase ever at Adelaide Oval.

The average first innings score in Test cricket at Adelaide is 377 runs. This suggests that the pitch here consistently provides excellent batting conditions for teams batting first. Test matches have seen mixed results with teams batting first often scoring big.

Don Bradman scored 299 at The Oval, a landmark score before being outclassed. David Warner later broke the ground total record with an unbeaten 335 against Pakistan. These innings show how Adelaide Oval rewards batsmen who get themselves settled in properly.

ODI Records at Adelaide Oval

Australia posted their highest ODI score of 369 for 7 against Pakistan here. The Australian batting line-up fired on all cylinders to post this mammoth ODI score. This innings showed how flat the pitch can be for limited-overs cricket.

Australia posted their lowest ODI score of 70 runs in an ODI against New Zealand. Australia have been unable to cope with New Zealand’s bowling on a good surface. This is the lowest ODI score at Adelaide Oval in international cricket.

The average first innings score in ODI cricket at Adelaide is around 225 runs. This suggests that ODI cricket here produces competitive totals in the mid-200s. Both teams batting first and second have won several consecutive matches here.

The balanced nature of the pitch is reflected in the results of both batting first and chasing. Teams batting first can post big totals while chasing teams also regularly find success. This balance makes for exciting ODI cricket at Adelaide Oval throughout the years.

Recommended to Read: Sydney Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report – Bowling and Batting, Records & Stats

T20I Records at Adelaide Oval

Australia’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka is a memorable 233 for 2. This is also the highest T20I score recorded by any team in Australia. After making such a big T20 score in Adelaide, Australia’s power hitters dominated the bowling.

Sri Lanka made their lowest T20I score of 99 runs in the same match. Sri Lanka were unable to cope with the Australian pace and spin bowling on the surface. This is the lowest T20I score ever at this historic cricket venue.

The average first innings score over a small sample of matches is around 180 runs. This suggests that T20 cricket here produces high scoring scores in the 180 range. Teams posting above 180 often successfully defend their totals in T20 cricket.