13 reasons why Adelaide is simply the best over Sydney
We all know we live in the better state – but here’s the proof for Sydneysiders on why Adelaide is simply the better location for the Test.
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Sure, we’re a parochial bunch in South Australia – so of course Adelaide is the better city to snatch the New Year’s Test from under Sydney’s nose. Here’s 13 reasons why we sayAdelaide is simply the better location for the Test.
1) We have the world’s greatest cricket ground
I can hear the grumblings from England and India and, of course, Sydney, Melbourne and now Perth. But a fact is fact – Adelaide Oval is wonderfully picturesque, it consistently delivers good pitches, and it’s loved by players and spectators alike. News Corp sports journalist Robert “Crash” Craddock agrees.
“Without doubt … Adelaide is the now the No. 1 cricket ground in Australia,” Craddock wrote.
“When I did a survey last year during the Boxing Day Test, all 10 journos that I surveyed in the press box had Adelaide No. 1 – they did it in a heartbeat. It’s really hard to split the others.”
2) Adelaide has better weather than Sydney
Sure, you could argue that Sydney’s wetter, more humid weather might be more preferable to live in than the giant hair dryer-like conditions of a typical Adelaide summer, but if you’re staging a five-day contest that gets shut down whenever water falls from the sky it makes sense to play in the dryer city. This year’s SCG Test saw bad light and showers cut day 1 short by several hours and day 3 was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of constant rain. According to the stats, Adelaide has lost two days to wash outs in Test cricket history. Sydney has lost 25.
3) We love Test cricket and we draw big crowds
More than 86,000 people attended December’s Test match at Adelaide Oval to watch Australia take on the West Indies. Or, more accurately, to watch Australia wallop the West Indies, which everyone knew was going to happen. Compare that to the 40-odd thousand that turned out in Perth the week before. Adelaide’s biggest day this summer saw more than 27,000 turn out. Sydney’s biggest day – against a far more competitive South Africa – was 31,000. Sydney’s population, for the record, is almost four times that of Adelaide’s. Where we don’t do crowds is our stunning beaches – we’ll take space on the sand at our city beaches over elbowing strangers at Bondi any day. Best beach in Australia for 2023? Yeah, you’ll also find that in SA.
4) Adelaide Oval is a better spectator experience
Whether you’re a boat shoe-wearing private school type sipping Pimm’s on the lawns behind the members stand or a singlet-wearing blue-collar battler necking beers on the Hill, Adelaide Oval caters for everyone. It’s what makes going to a Test at the Oval so much fun (because let’s face it, very few have the patience to pay attention to the cricket for five whole days). No other oval stacks up to Adelaide on the social front.
5) Location location location
Adelaide Oval is within easy walking distance of Adelaide’s thriving small bar and restaurant precincts, meaning fans can grab a bite to eat and a drink before, after or even during a Test match. The SCG, surrounded by Moore and Centennial parks, is a trickier proposition. Jeez, we even have a boutique hotel literally attached to the outside of the oval for those who want to truly immerse themselves in the cricket experience.
6) Adelaide has better traffic
Have you ever driven across Sydney? You’ll need a packed lunch, an empty bladder and the patience of a saint. If you’ve never done it, just go to your local Westland and park in the carpark for a couple of hours. It’s essentially the same. Adelaide, however, remains the 20-minute city. OK, maybe 30 minutes these days, but it’s still a cinch.
7) Adelaide has no tolls
While we’re on the topic of traffic, there is a way you cut a few minutes off your Sydney commute. They’re called toll roads, and to use them you just need to be willing to fork out the equivalent of a small mortgage every month for the privilege. Adelaide roads remain free as a bird.
8) Liveable housing – compare the pair
This 7 Duncan St, Lockleys home is being advertised at $960,000 to $1m. It’s on 718sqm of land, has three bedrooms, offers 198sqm of indoor and outdoor living space and is a 16-minute drive from the city.
Meanwhile at 1107/211 Pacific Highway, North Sydney – a 10-minute drive from Sydney’s CBD ¬ $1.03 million will get you a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with 65.1sqm of living space and a single car park.
That’s just not cricket. The defense rests, your honour.
9) Our restaurants are the best
Literally – SA’s own Restaurant Botanic was in 2022 named Australia’s Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller. Our exciting dining landscape is also more affordable – to compare fancy apples with fancy apples, you can currently dine at Restaurant Botanic for $280, compared to $340 at Oncore by Clare Smyth at Crown Sydney.
10) World class wines at our doorstep
What’s that? It takes you an average of 71 minutes to get to and from work each day? Pfft, it takes us less than that to get to our world-famous wine regions. SA is home to more than 300 cellar doors, most less than an hour’s away from the CBD – think the big bold reds of the Barossa, the cool whites of the Adelaide Hills and the Mediterranean inspired drops of McLaren Vale.
11) Our footy pies are cheaper
It’s an iconic pairing – a pie and a pint at the local footy. But you’ll get slugged more at the Sydney Cricket Ground than you will at Adelaide Oval. A pie at SCG will set you back $6, and just $5.40 at Adelaide Oval, while a can of beer in Sydney costs $9.20, compared with $9.40 for a larger pint of gold.
12) Our train system is better
While Adelaide’s public transport system has faced its fair share of criticism, it’s still an improvement on Sydney’s network.
Only two days ago, passengers became stranded between Casula and Liverpool stations due to a major power outage impacting signals and points.
To make matters worse, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing at Accor Stadium and concert goers were asked to find another form of transport.
13) Oval’s home to better Test match cricket
When it comes to hosting great Test matches, Adelaide Oval stands out like a beacon.
Forget the slow, dry, lifeless wickets that have plagued the SCG in recent times, resulting in boring draws in the past three years.
Adelaide Oval hasn’t hosted a drawn Test since 2012 and has featured some of the most exciting Tests in cricket history.
Who can forget the thrilling finish to the ‘Amazing Adelaide Test’ in 2006 when thousands of fans poured into the ground late on day five to watch an inspired Shane Warne turn the Test against England on its head in what former Australian captain Ricky Ponting described as “the best Test win I’ve been part of’’.
Or Australia’s heartbreaking one-run loss to the West Indies in the fourth Test in 1993?
Most Australia players rate Adelaide Oval as their favourite venue – for good reason.
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