Exploring the Test Records at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town

In Test cricket at the Newlands Cricket Ground, South African Jacques Kallis holds the record for most runs (2181) while fellow countryman Dale Steyn took the most wickets (74).

Located in Cape Town, South Africa, the Newlands Cricket Ground is among the most stunning cricket grounds on earth.

Known for being overlooked by Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, two of the most well-known tourist destinations in Cape Town, the seat of South Africa’s legislature, the Newlands was established in 1888.

With several improvements under its belt, the stadium can now accommodate 25,000 spectators.

The Cape Cobras, MI Cape Town, and Western Province Cricket are all housed at the Newlands Cricket Ground. 

One of the oldest venues in South Africa, the Newlands is owned by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) and hosted its inaugural international match, a Test between South Africa and England in 1889. By an innings and 202 runs, the visitors prevailed in the Test.

It has now hosted 21 T20Is, 47 ODIs, and 60 Tests. Let’s examine the Newlands Test statistics and records in more detail.

Newlands Test statistics and records

highest sum:

The record for the greatest total in Test cricket at the Newlands Cricket Ground is held by the South Africa cricket squad. In their opening innings at this location, the hosts scored the highest total of 651 during the third Test of Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2009. South Africa reached an enormous total because to the centuries of AB de Villiers (163), Ashwell Prince (150), and captain Jacques Kallis (102). 

Australia chose to bat first and was bowled out for 209 in their opening innings. The Proteas won the Cape Town Test by an innings and twenty runs after bowling out the visitors for 422 in their second innings.

lowest overall:

Those hosting In Test matches played at the Newlands Cricket Ground, South Africa had the lowest total. In the last Test of a two-match series in April 1899, South Africa was bowled out for 35 in 22.4 overs when chasing 246 in the fourth innings against England. 

The only South African batsman to score in double figures in their second innings was opener Albert Powell (11). Schofield Haigh, an England pacer, was the main wrecker with six wickets. Earlier, England chose to bat first and scored 92 in their opening innings, while South Africa managed 177. England’s second innings ended with them knocked out for 330. It was a Test won by the visitors by 210 runs.

The majority of Runs:

At this ground, Jacques Kallis, a great South African cricketer, scored the most runs in the longest format of the game. Between 1996 and 2013, the former right-hander scored 2,181 runs at an incredible 72.70 average in 22 games. At Newlands, Kallis hit nine hundreds and as many fifties in Test cricket. At the Cape Town cricket ground in 2012, he hit his highest Test score of 224 against Sri Lanka. Former colleague Graeme Smith is rated second on the list with 1,363 runs in 17 Tests.

The majority of wickets:

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn took the most wickets in Test cricket at Newlands. The former right-arm fast bowler took 74 wickets in 15 matches at a strike rate of 44.29 and an average of 21.75. Between 2006 and 2019, Steyn had eight four-wicket hauls and one fifer at this venue. Vernon Philander, Steyn’s former bowling partner, is second on the list with 53 wickets in 11 Tests.

Individual with the highest score:

Former New Zealand cricketer Stephen Fleming had the highest individual score in Tests at the Newlands Cricket Ground. Captain Stephen Fleming batted at number three and scored 262 off 423 balls in the first innings of New Zealand’s second Test against South Africa in 2006. His stunning double hundred was peppered with 31 fours and two sixes. Fleming’s innings contributed to New Zealand’s total of 593/8d. South Africa scored 512 in their first innings in response. The match concluded in a draw after the visitors were 121/3 in their second innings. The three-match Test series was won 2-0 by South Africa.

Top bowling statistics during an innings:

At this location in 1899, England’s Johnny Briggs set a record for the best bowling stats in an innings during a Test match. In the second innings, the left-arm spinner dismissed South Africa for 43 with figures of 8/11. To assist South Africa win the Cape Town Test by an innings and 202 runs, Briggs dismissed Bernard Tancred, Arthur Ochse, Philip Hutchinson, captain William Milton, Dicky Richards, Charles Vintcent, Fred Smith, and Gobo Ashley.

Top bowling statistics during a game:

The greatest bowling figures in a Test match at the Newlands are also held by Johnny Briggs. In the second Test of England’s 1889 tour of South Africa, the spinner from England claimed 15 wickets. Briggs took eight wickets for just 11 runs in the second innings, after taking seven wickets for 17 runs in the first. With the outstanding bowling of Briggs, England crushed the hosts by an innings and 202 runs.

highest level of cooperation:

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow of England set a record for the highest partnership in Test cricket at the Newlands. In the first innings of the second Test match against South Africa in 2016, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow shared a huge 399-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Stokes hammered 258 as Bairstow, still undefeated at 150, held on. The game was tied at the end.