Sydney · Australia · 2002–2025
Sydney Cricket Ground: Conditions, Records and What to Expect
At a glance
Matches
162
All formats
Par score
224
1st-innings average
Chase success
47%
Defending edge
Bat-first win
48%
Long-sample record
Pitch & conditions
The patterns we see repeat across the matches on record — what works at SCG, and what captains should plan for.
First-innings teams average 225 here against a second-innings average of 199, a 26-run gap that has held across 160 matches. The chase success rate sits at 48%, suggesting the surface rewards setting a target rather than chasing one, though the margin is close enough to keep both captains thinking carefully at the toss.
Batting sides average 35 runs in the powerplay at an average cost of 1.13 wickets, which is a relatively conservative return. Teams that preserve their top order through those early overs tend to convert solid starts in the middle phase, where the average contribution rises sharply to 146 runs across the dataset.
The average death-overs contribution of just 30 runs is low compared to the middle-overs output. Bowlers operating in the final overs at the SCG have historically kept batters in check, and conditions that assist swing or carry late in an innings may explain part of that pattern.
Winning captains have chosen to bat at a rate of 63% across matches at the ground, electing to field just 37% of the time. That preference aligns with the first-innings advantage visible in the scoring averages, and it means teams batting second face a slightly above-par target on a surface that can slow as a match progresses.
Across 160 recorded matches, the ground has hosted 25 Tests, 48 ODIs, 17 T20Is and 70 BBL fixtures. That breadth means the surface gets read across very different contexts, and the BBL's high match volume in particular has shaped the modern understanding of how it plays under lights.
By the numbers
Career aggregates from the matches LuckySpire tracks at SCG. Drawn from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data under ODC-BY licence.
Avg 1st inn
224
T20-era par
Avg 2nd inn
199
Chasing average
Chase success
47%
All formats
Highest total
705
On record
Lowest total
61
Complete innings
Phase-by-phase · scoring trajectory
Cumulative scoring trajectory across a typical white-ball innings at SCG. Phase bands show Powerplay (overs 1–6), Middle (7–15) and Death (16–20) — the death-overs acceleration is where the ground's character shows up most sharply.
Powerplay
40RPO · OVERS 1–6
Middle
140RPO · OVERS 7–15
Death
45RPO · OVERS 16–20
Who plays here
Match counts and win records for the teams with the deepest history at this ground.
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Cricket | 83 | 53 | 17 | 12 | 64% |
| Sydney Sixers | 70 | 42 | 23 | 3 | 60% |
| India Cricket | 24 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 29% |
| England Cricket | 19 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 32% |
| Sri Lanka Cricket | 15 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 33% |
| Sydney Thunder | 14 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 21% |
| Melbourne Stars | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 42% |
| New Zealand Cricket | 12 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 17% |
Similar grounds
High-scoring road · slight chase bias · 155 matches
High-scoring road · 149 matches
High-scoring road · 129 matches
High-scoring road · defending advantage · 162 matches
Batting-friendly · 164 matches