AUS vs IND: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is one of the most iconic venues across the world. It has hosted some of the best matches in the history of the sport. In Australia, every year, MCG hosts the Boxing Day Test as per tradition, and accordingly, India will face the hosts in the upcoming fourth Test match at the venue.
The surface at the MCG is known to be too good for the fast bowlers and poses challenges to the batters. However, the venue has also offered runs for the batters who are ready to grind, spending enough time in the middle.
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Here’s the list of the players who have scored the most hundreds at the MCG across formats:
1. Ricky Ponting
Australia’s legendary captain Ricky Ponting is on top of this list, having enjoyed a lot batting at the iconic MCG. He notched up a staggering 11 centuries at the venue during his illustrious career. From 1995 to 2012, Ponting turned up at the MCG in 57 matches across formats to smash 11 tons and 22 fifties as he amassed 3467 runs at an impeccable average of 56.83.
Ponting dominated the proceedings at the MCG in ODIs, scoring seven centuries in 41 matches. He scored 2108 runs at an average of almost 57 at the venue and also notched up 22 fifties. His remaining four tons came in the longest format of the sport after playing 15 Tests (28 innings) and scoring 1338 runs at an even better average of 58.17.
2. Don Bradman
There is no list with Don in it. His career numbers are staggering, and when it comes to MCG, they are absolutely jaw-dropping, as he literally smashed England’s bowlers right through his career. Bradman played only 52 Tests in his illustrious career, and on 11 occasions, he turned up at the iconic MCG, making sure almost every time he brought laurels to his country.
In 11 Test matches, Bradman notched up as many as nine centuries to go with three fifties as well. In 17 innings, he amassed 1671 runs at an unreal average of 128.53, with the best score of 270. The numbers are a dream for any player not only at a particular venue but also in their entire career.
3. Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden made a name for himself as an aggressive opener throughout his career. He loved to walk down the track to smash the bowlers, and he did it even at the MCG, where the bowlers dominated most of the time. Not that Hayden didn’t endure a failure here but whenever he got going, the southpaw made sure to score a big one.
He crossed the 100-run mark at the MCG six times and is at the third spot on this list. He played a total of 26 matches (35 innings) here to score 1585 runs at an average of 51.12, and apart from six tons, he also notched up seven fifties. Interestingly, all his six centuries came in 10 Tests he played at the venue.
4. Jack Hobbs
The only non-Australian player on this list, Jack Hobbs, loved accumulating runs at the MCG. He dominated the Australian bowling attack during his career that spanned from 1908 to 1929. Hobbs, the England batter, notched up five centuries at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after turning up at the venue in 10 Test matches.
He scored 1178 runs in 18 innings at the MCG at an impeccable average of 69.29, with 178 being his best score. Apart from five tons, Hobbs also registered four fifties with the bat at the MCG.
5. Steve Smith and David Warner
It is fitting that Steve Smith and David Warner also feature on this list. The modern-day legends are among the best batters in the 21st century, with the latter recently retiring from international cricket. Warner played 30 matches at the MCG in his career that spanned from 2009 to 2023. He scored five centuries and as many fifties to amass 1583 runs at an average of 43.97, with the best score being 200.
As for Smith, he has so far played 28 matches at the MCG, scoring 1624 at an average of 58 with five tons and eight fifties to his name. Smith’s four out of five centuries in MCG have come in 11 Tests he has played so far and will be keen on adding more to his tally in the near future. He will feature in the Boxing Day Test against India as well and is coming off a ton at the Gabba as well. The former Aussie skipper has a good chance of climbing up in this list by the time he calls it quits in his cricket career.
