An icon by any other name

Sydney isn't just memorable, it is iconic. The capital of the state of New South Wales has world-famous landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and Bondi Beach. Similarly, New South Wales hasn't just produced cricketers you remember, it has produced iconic cricketers who have etched their names into the collective consciousness.

In the modern age alone, New South Wales has produced a galaxy of international cricket stars. Glenn McGrath is from the state, a skinny country boy whose maniacal consistency helped him take more Test wickets than any other fast bowler. The Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, are New South Welshmen whose talent was only matched by their bloody-mindedness. The current Australian Test captain, Michael Clarke, was born and bred here. And this is to name but a few.

Looking further back, the state produced Richie Benaud, a man Gideon Haigh described as "perhaps the most influential cricketer and cricket personality since the Second World War". You may have also have heard of a boy from Bowral in New South Wales who went by the name of Sir Donald George Bradman.

The earliest known reference to cricket in Australia appeared in the Sydney Gazette in 1804, and New South Wales has been a hotbed of Australian cricket talent ever since. The Sydney Grade Cricket competition is widely regarded as one of the best of its kind in the country, if not the best, and New South Welshmen account for eight of the current 18 Cricket Australia central contracts for the men's national teams. Additionally, as per the Cricket Australia 2013-14 census, more people play cricket in New South Wales than in any other Australian state or territory.

The venue
Modernised in recent years but still sporting the idyllic Ladies Pavilion stand, the Sydney Cricket Ground has historically been a very spin-friendly wicket. This has changed in recent years, as the pitches have been much harder, with a bit more pace in them. The odd greentop has been produced for Test matches, but expect a fairly even contest between bat and ball for the World Cup.

Ground page | Fixtures

Great matches
Australia v England, Benson & Hedges World Series, 1987
Needing 18 runs off the last six balls of the match from Bruce Reid, Allan Lanb thought to himself: "Six balls is not enough of a challenge, I'll do it in five". He promptly did so, hitting the winning runs with a boundary and scooting off the ground quicker than a five-year-old who just stole the last biscuit from the jar.

England v South Africa, World Cup semi-final, 1992
This was not as much of a great match as an infamous one. With 13 balls remaining in the match, South Africa needed 22 to win. Then the rain hit for a mere 12 minutes, but as far as South Africa were concerned that was an eternity. Upon resumption the target was "reduced" to 21 runs from one ball. It was the first of a series of ignominious ends to World Cup campaigns for South Africa.

Australia v West Indies, 1996
This was the original "Michael Bevan steers Australia home from a totally unwinnable position" match. Complete with Bevan hitting a boundary off the last ball to get Australia home, and Bill Lawry getting so excited in the commentary box that he sounded like the squeaky-voiced teenager from The Simpsons.

Top performers in ODIs
Most runs Allan Border, 1561 runs at 28.90 | Top score Andrew Symonds, 151 v Sri Lanka
Most wickets Glenn McGrath, 50 wickets at 18.30 | Best bowling Greg Chappell 5 for 15 v India

Home team
Having produced so many transcendental players, it is no surprise that New South Wales has dominated the Sheffield Shield. Since its inception in 1892, they have won the competition a record 46 times. Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League also call the SCG home. Sixers won the inaugural franchised edition of the competition in pink blaze of glory back in 2012.