sydney cricket ground

Established:1848
Capacity: 43,649
Floodlights: Yes
Ends: Paddington End, Randwick End
Home Team: New South Wales
Head Groundsman: Tom Parker
Ashes History: 48 Tests*; 21 Australia wins, 21 England wins, six draws
Ashes 2006-7: Fifth Test, 2-6 Jan

The green-topped Ladies' Pavilion at the SCG remains one of the most distinctive landmarks in world cricket at one of the sport's most celebrated grounds.

Recent redevelopment may have reduced the capacity to a relatively modest 43,649, but the Brewongle, Churchill, O'Reilly, Noble and Doug Walters Stands dotted around the playing area offer stunning views of the playing surface, with all the stands closer to the action than at other similar venues.

Sir Don Bradman made his highest first-class score here, an unbeaten 452 for New South Wales against Queensland, and it was regarded as a batting paradise in years gone by.

More recently the ground has undergone something of a transformation and now favours the spinners, although Brian Lara did score 277 in 1992/93, in the same match Allan Border scored his 10,000th Test run.

England won their last Test in Sydney, Andy Caddick ripping out seven for 94 in the second innings as the tourists crushed Australia by 225 runs on the back of Michael Vaughan's third century of the series.

It was no more than a consolation victory however, with Nasser Hussain's men already 4-0 down by the time the series reached New South Wales.

*SCG also hosted three Tests between Australia and England before The Ashes were instigated (three Australia wins) as well as the Bicentenary Test in 1987/8, which ended in a draw.