UAE has reason to feel proud when India takes on Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground

 By K.R. Nayar

 Indian and Australian cricketers who were part of IPL2020 have flown out from the UAE- a country that have staged the most number of One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals in the world today -  to the Sydney cricket ground that also has many landmarks to its credit.  As much as we recall the feats of cricketers, landmarks achieved by cricket grounds also deserve to be highlighted 

Sydney Cricket ground 

UAE should feel proud when India take on Australia in the first One Day International match of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 27, 2020. One may wonder why that should be the case? 
The UAE can also be proud of the fact that these cricketers have moved from one historic cricket centre, which has played an important role in two formats of the game, to another country that is steeped in cricket history and has played a historic role in all formats of the game.  
Through numerous exciting matches, top Indian as well as Australian players along with many other cricketers were entertaining everyone for nearly two months through the Indian Premier League that was held in the UAE. Though this country is not a Test-playing nation, its contribution to cricket is remarkable. 

Dubai International Cricket Stadium 

UAE holds the record for having hosted the maximum number of ODIs and T20s in the world today. A look at the figures indicates that the UAE has hosted 163 T20 Internationals, and is ahead of India which has staged 92 T20 Internationals. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium heads the list with 62 matches followed by Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium with 45 matches. 

Sharjah Cricket Stadium 

In One Day Internationals, Sharjah proudly stands ahead, having hosted 240 ODIs in contrast to the Sydney Cricket Ground's 157 ODIs. The Zayed Cricket Stadium and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium have hosted 45 and 34 ODI matches respectively. So these players have flown to Australia having played on grounds in a country that has hosted 319 ODIs!

Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium 

Sydney is that ground from where today’s one-day cricket with all its special features had started way back on November 28, 1978. The Kerry Packers’ World Cricket Series Competition’s first day-night match was held using the white ball, dark sight screens, and coloured clothing. Though it was not termed as an official One Day International. the match between Ian Chappell’s Australians and Clive Lloyd’s West Indies was watched by 44,377 spectators.
Sydney cricket ground’s first official ODI  match was held on January 13, 1979, between Australia and England. That match lasted for 7.2 overs only with rain playing spoilsport.  Though Sharjah’s first ODI was held as late as April 6, 1984, this venue went ahead and hosted the most number of ODIs in the history of world cricket to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
Very often, we forget the historical importance of the grounds on which matches are played.  It was a special moment in One-day cricket when India played Australia at Sydney on December 18, 1980. This was the 100th ODI match, and India, who were not a strong team then, got beaten by nine wickets with Allan Border cracking an unbeaten 105. For India, GR Viswanath had top scored with 43 runs.
What impressed me the most during my last visit to the Sydney ground was that this venue has recorded most of the historic moments in cricket on the walls of the stadium. On the way to pavilion, I saw a plaque commemorating the 100th Test match held at this ground between India and Australia on January 3, 2012. Another plaque was about the 150th anniversary of the inaugural first-class match held on February 15, 1854, between the Garrison Club and Royal Victoria Club.
It is important that every ground in the world respect and records their historic moments prominently at their stadium. Cricket fans take great joy in recalling historic moments and contests. The glory of every ground is not just the number of exciting matches it has hosted but also the records that are set in the process.