Lords Of A Cricketing Venue

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There are some cricket grounds where batsmen amass runs in their sleep. The records which they have established at a particular venue make them memorable. Gocricket.com takes a look at batsmen who have scored plenty of runs at a particular venue.
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1. Mahela Jayawardene at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) (Tests: 26, Runs 2838*, Average: 79.97, Centuries 11, Fifties 8)

One look at the numbers that Jayawardene has amassed at the SSC is eye-popping. 11 centuries at this venue is a world record. He has scored 2799 runs, which is the most by any batsman at a venue. The consistency of Jayawardene at the SSC is legendary. His first major knock was 242 against India in 1999 which gave Sri Lanka victory. At one point, from 2006 to 2008, Jayawardene scored four consecutive centuries at this venue. However, his knock of 374 and his partnership of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa will be remembered for its sheer enormity of the numbers. It is only a matter of time before the SSC stadium is renamed as the Mahela Jayawardene Recreation Park.

2. Jacques Kallis at Newlands, Cape Town (Tests 22, Runs 2181, Average 72.7, Centuries 9, Fifties 9)

Without a shadow of doubt, Kallis is the Lord of Newlands. He has smashed nine centuries at a venue which has traditionally favoured bowlers. Some of his exploits at this venue are legendary. He smashed 161 and 109* against India to help South Africa avoid defeat. The most astonishing part was that he did it on one leg. His knocks against England and Australia set up victory for the team. Newlands is associated with the picturesque Table Mountains but it will also be associated with Kallis' knocks.

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3. Sir Donald Bradman at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne (Tests 11, Runs 1671, Average 128.53, Centuries 9, Fifties 3)

Bradman's monstrous appetite for runs was evident in the way he played at the MCG. In 11 matches, he scored nine tons and went without a century only once in his whole career at the MCG. His lowest century score is an unbeaten 103 but it came in the infamous Bodyline series of 1932/33. He was dismissed for 0 in the first innings but slammed 103 in the second to help Australia level the series in what was a bitter series. His next greatest moment came in 1937 when, on a damp sticky dog of a wicket, he reversed the batting order and scored 270 batting in the No. 7 position. He shared a 346-run stand with Jack Fingleton to help Australia win the match by 365 runs. This performance helped Australia come back from 0-2 down to win the five-match series 3-2. This is the only time so far that this feat has been achieved.

4. Kumar Sangakkara at the SSC (Tests 21, Runs 2159, Average 77.1, Centuries 8, Fifties 5)

Jaywardene's record is unbelievable at the SSC but Sangakkara's record is no flash in the pan. Out of his eight centuries at the SSC, he has scored three double centuries. His first major knock was 232 against South Africa in 2004 and South Africa never managed to get past his individual score in both innings. His 287 against the same opponents in 2006 was memorable for the 624-run stand with Jayawardene. The SSC has indeed been a happy hunting ground for these two best friends.

5. Michael Clarke at Adelaide (Tests 9, Runs 1279, Average 98.38, Centuries 6, Fifties 3)

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Clarke, in a way, has been Bradmanesque at Adelaide. He has scored three consecutive centuries twice at this venue. His first purple patch came in 2006 and 2008 when his 124 helped Australia achieve a remarkable come from behind win against England. In his next two matches against India and New Zealand, his centuries gave Australia a platform from where they could push for victory. In his next patch, he scored two consecutive double centuries against India and South Africa as he made the venue his own. His average of 98.38 is second only to Bradman when it comes to his performances at this venue.

*The number of runs is updated at the end of day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the SSC. The order is according to the most number of centuries.

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