Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG): The Home of New Year's Test Cricket

The Sydney Cricket Ground

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of Australia's most storied sporting venues, hosting cricket since 1878. Located in Moore Park in the inner-eastern suburbs of Sydney, the SCG has a capacity of approximately 46,000 and is famous for its historic Members Stand, the Doug Walters Stand, and the distinctive Hill — a famous standing area that was the home of cricket's most colourful crowds in the 20th century.

The New Year's Test Tradition

The SCG hosts the New Year's Test each January — a fixture so embedded in Australian cricket culture that it is simply called 'the Sydney Test'. Starting on or around January 3 each year, the New Year's Test draws large crowds to watch Australia (usually against England, India, or Pakistan in rotation). The tradition began in the 1880s and has been maintained with rare exceptions ever since. The Sydney Test's fifth day is often attended by post-New Year's Eve cricket fans in festive mood.

Famous SCG Moments

The SCG has been the venue for many of cricket's great moments. Don Bradman played his last domestic Sydney match at the SCG. Shane Warne's Test cricket career included many defining performances at the ground. England's famous 2010-11 Ashes victory was completed at the SCG. More recently, the SCG hosted Pat Cummins' first Test as Australia captain in the 2021-22 Ashes.