WC venue guide: Eden Park, Auckland
Established: 1901
Capacity: 50,000
Floodlights: Yes
Ends: Broadcasting End, Terraces End
Home Team: Auckland
ODI History: 73 ODIs; 29 home wins; 34 away wins; 10 other
Overview
Gone are the days of Eden Park's debt-ridden doubts, with its $256 million redevelopment in 2010 breathing new life on the country's biggest sporting stadium – formerly a swamp – and at the foothills of Mount Eden.
The Test against England in 2013 saw a venue with a rich history, recently lined with Rugby World Cup matches and Super Rugby fixtures, return to Test cricket after a seven-year hiatus. A trust, started in 1926, ran the venue's finances until this year, when the Auckland Council took over – effectively giving ratepayers control.
Temporary seating in front of the North and West Stands (usually only used for international rugby matches) is required for the capacity to be reached. Due to sightscreens and the larger playing area – and the odd grass embankment for the crowd – cricket capacity is less.
Top ODI total: 340/5 by New Zealand vs Australia in 2007
Favours batting/bowling: Batting. Small grounds make for small boundaries and batsman love smaller boundaries. 22 centuries have been scored at the venue by individual players.
Best ODI batsman: Martin Crowe 719 runs in 16 innings, includes six fifties and and two centuries. He has a highest score of 105* and averages 79.88 with a srike-rate of 74.12
Best ODI bowler: Chris Cairns 33 wickets in 27 matches, a best bowling performances of four for 33, has and on average 23.66 and an economy rate of 4.84
Fixtures:
Sat Feb 28: Pool A – New Zealand v Australia
Sat Mar 7: Pool B – Pakistan v South Africa
Sat Mar 14: Pool B – India v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 24: 1st Semi-Final
Most exciting match-up: Sat Feb 28: Pool A – New Zealand v Australia
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