Venues / Ed Hawkins / 21 November 2010 /

The venue for the last Test is an intimate ground with spectators close to the action. It could well be the venue where the series is to be decided and may be a wicket where the quicks could enjoy themselves.

Sydney

Sydney has not always been the last Test of the series. But even when it wasn't, England have generally been downcast at another failed Ashes bid, coming to terms with their inferiority.

The series was over in 2006 and 2003. In 1999 they could have levelled the series, although the urn was retained, and in 1995 and 1991 they were already 2-0 down. Sydneysiders could do with a game that really means something.

That goes some way to explaining England's 2003 success at the SCG while in 1987, the boot was on the other foot with the Aussies winning a dead game.

The ground

Spectators are close to the action at the SCG as they almost step back in time to a period when 'stadiums' or 'arenas' had not been thought of. The grassy banks are no more but the green roof of the Ladies' Pavilion is a nod to history.

The fifth Test looked at one time likely to be improved from the SCG to the soulless ANZ stadium, the main venue for the 2000 Olympics, because of a staging row. But thankfully, Cricket NSW and the Sydney Trust, the warring factions, saw sense.

The wicket

The average batting first in the last 10 Tests at Sydney is 380 which shows how out of character Australia's 127 all out against Pakistan was at the start of the year. Still it upheld the wicket's reputation as being one which deteriorates - Pakistan collapsed in the fourth innings.

It's status as being a crumbler was confirmed in many people's minds when Andy Caddick destroyed the Aussie batting in 2003 with alarming variable bounce. It is a bit unfair, though if you consider that in the last 10 Tests, six from 12 have been won by the side batting first. There has been only one draw during that period.

For the last Ashes contest the pitch was lightning quick. A bouncer by Brett Lee smashing into Andrew Strauss' helmet being one incident that sticks in the memory.
It is too early to say whether it is fast again, although Mark Cameron, who highlighted the nature of the Gabba wicket in October, had taken three wickets in the first Sheffield Shield contest at the venue as this guide was being written.

There have been 31 centuries scored in Tests in the last 10 years, nine of them by tourists. Two came from the bat of Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher. Surprisingly, Stuart MacGill is the leading wicket-taker in the last 10 years.

Highest total 705-7d India v Australia 2004
Highest 4th innings chase 288-2 Australia v South Africa 2004
Most runs 1,346 R Ponting
Most wickets 64 S Warne
Most runs last five years 505 M Hussey
Most wickets last five years 17 B Lee
Australian batting averages at ground
Katich 60.6
Watson 33.6
Ponting 64
Clarke 29.4
Hussey 101
North 6
Haddin 16.6

Last meeting

Memorable because Australia secured a whitewash and Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne bowed out of Test cricket, the Sydney Test of 2007 was actually a rather limp affair. It took only three and a bit days.

England batted first and made only 291 with Andrew Flintoff top scoring. In reply Australia posted 393 with Warne falling 29 shy of a maiden ton. England were then blown away for just 147 as Australia romped to a 10-wicket win.

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