England will play at the vast MCG three times this winter - the famous Boxing Day Ashes Test, a T20 and one-dayer

Ground Name Melbourne Cricket Ground
Stadium Manager Melbourne Cricket Club
Address 86 Jolimont Street, Jolimont 3002
End names Members End and Great Southern Stand End
Telephone (matchdays) (03) 9654 4995
Telephone (03) 9653 1100
Fax (03) 9653 1196
Ground Capacity approx 100,000 (including standing room)
Email vca@cricketvictoria.com.au
Website www.cricketvictoria.com.au

Follow England's tour of Australia on www.ecb.co.uk/ashes

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, is the world’s oldest Test match ground, hosting a match between Australia and England in March 1877, three years before London’s Oval.

The MCG hosted the game which clinched the Ashes for Mike Gatting’s team in 1986 but for many England fans it is best remembered for the 1992 World Cup Final when England lost to Pakistan by 22 runs.

The crowd of 87,000 was just 3,000 short of the world record attendance for a day’s Test cricket which brought 90,800 to the MCG to watch the West Indies in 1960-61.

Venue for the traditional ‘Boxing Day’ Test, Australia won by five wickets here in 2002-03 with Justin Langer making 250, but four years earlier England secured a dramatic victory by just 12 runs with Dean Headley taking a match-winning 6-60 in the second innings.

Venue for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 1956 Olympics, the northern side of the ground has recently undergone a redevelopment.

Sir Don Bradman set a phenomenal record at the ground which is unlikely to be beaten anywhere across the world. In the 11 Tests he played at the MCG, he scored nine Test centuries in 17 innings - averaging a staggering 128 runs per innings.

The MCG surface traditionally stays true with even bounce, allowing for a fair contest between bat and ball. Due to its capacity, the arena can be very intimidating for visiting teams. The Australians have the ability to revel in the atmosphere of a packed house, so England will have to mindful of not letting the pressure tell.

Venue Head-to-Head

The ground has hosted 53 contests between the two sides. The Australians have won on 26 occasions, England 19. Seven Tests ended in draws with one abandoned. The last win for England was in December 1998.

England's last Ashes appearance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ended in defeat by an innings and 99 runs