Find out all the stats and information you need to know about the Manuka Oval, Canberra ahead of the 1st Australia vs India T20I.
The much-anticipated T20 international series between Australia and India begins at one of Australia’s most picturesque yet underrated venues, the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Nestled in the heart of the capital, this 13,500 capacity ground isn’t one of the biggest grounds Down Under, but it’s exciting for T20 action. Batters and bowlers will have a say in the contest.
History of the Manuka Oval
Opened in 1929, Manuka Oval was once an open park known as Manuka Circle Park before being locked down to accommodate formal sport. With its tree-lined boundary and period pavilion, it still carries that quaint, old-world Australian charm. The ground regularly hosts the Prime Minister’s XI, a traditional clash between the XI selected by the Australian Prime Minister and visiting international teams.
As for India, they played four matches (3 ODIs and 1 T20I) at Manuka Oval, winning two and losing the remaining matches. The last time India faced Australia here in a T20I was in 2020, when a Yuzvendra Chahal triple won Men in Blue in a tight contest.
The venue serves as the home of the ACT Comets and also serves as the second home for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL). Ravichandran Ashwin’s first BBL team, Thunder’s team often features a strong spin-bowling core, and this tendency is reflected in the way teams approach this surface.
Manuka Oval Pitch Report
The Manuka pitch is known for providing real bounce and a good surface for stroke play. Batters generally find value in shots, but square boundaries are longer than average, keeping smart spinners and bowlers in the game.
Over the years, moderate first-inning scores have been the trend. The last ten T20s have seen an average first innings total of 155.8 with a run rate of 7.82. While scores of 180+ have become more common in recent BBL seasons, Canberra’s cool evenings and early season chill could help seamers have some swing and grip this time around.
| Type | Counters | Average | Ecological | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | 85 | 11:46 p.m. | 8.05 | 0 | 0 |
| Rotation | 53 | 21.17 | 7.33 | 1 | 0 |
The spinners have a slightly better record here, helped by the wide outfield and a pitch that grips later in the night. The right-arm leg, in particular, has excelled, taking 26 wickets in the last 10 T20s at an average of 20.30 and an economy rate of 7.71.
History and Records T20I at Manuka Oval
Manuka Oval has hosted 22 T20 matches and the results have been evenly split, 10 won by teams batting first and 9 by teams chasing. The highest total recorded here is 195/3, while the average score batting first stands at 150.
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