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Tests at Wellington

By Mohandas Menon

Wellington is the capital city, port, and chief commercial centre of New Zealand. It was originally named Port Nicholson, when the Europeans first visited its harbour in 1826. In 1840, it was named after the first duke of Wellington. The city became the country's capital in 1865.

Cricket has been played at Wellington since 1842, with the formation of the Wellington Cricket Club. First-class cricket has been played at the Basin Reserve since 1873 and as on date the ground has hosted over 350 first-class matches.

The venue became a Test centre in January 1930, when England played the home team for the first time. Since then 39 Tests have been played here. The home team has won 10, lost 12 and drawn 17.

India has played four matches here - won the first in 1968 (by 8 wickets), but lost the next three, in 1976 (an innings & 33 runs), 1981 (by 62 runs) & 1998 (by 4 wickets).

The home team's 671-4 against Sri Lanka in February 1991, remains not only the highest at this ground but the highest by any team on Kiwi soil. New Zealand's 42 & 54 against Australia in 1946 are the lowest totals at Wellington.

Martin Crowe's 299 in February 1991 is the highest by a New Zealander, while Aravinda deSilva's 267 in the same match is the highest by a visiting batsman. Ajit Wadekar (143 in 1968), Mohammad Azharuddin (103 not out in 1998) and Sachin Tendulkar (113 in 1998) are the Indians to score hundreds here.

New Zealand's Richard Hadlee (7-23 in 1976) and Simon Doull (7-65 in 1998) - both against India - have the best bowling figures at this ground, while West Indian Courtney Walsh's 7-37 in 1995 has the best bowling performance by a visiting bowler. Left arm spinner Bapu Nadkarni (6-43 in 1968) has the best figures by an Indian.

In the last five Tests since December 1999, the home team has won two (against West Indies and Bangladesh) but lost to Australia by six wickets in March 2000.

In the last five Tests here, as usual pacemen have performed better than the spinners. Pace bowlers have taken 89 wickets @ 33.76 runs per wicket and strike-rate of 70.95 balls per wicket, while spinners have claimed just 34 wickets @ 46.24 and a strike rate of 98.09 balls per wicket!

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