McLean Park (Napier) – Pitch Report
McLean Park Napier Pitch Report
McLean Park, located in Napier, New Zealand, is one of the country's premier cricket venues. It regularly hosts international matches across all formats and serves as the home ground of the Central Districts Cricket Association. The stadium is also used for rugby union and major events.
Known for its true bounce and fast outfield, McLean Park has built a strong reputation as a high-scoring venue, especially in limited-overs cricket. Its location near the coast contributes to occasional wind assistance for seam bowlers.
McLean Park Stadium Pitch Report
Full Name: McLean Park
Former names: Sir Donald McLean Park
Location: Napier, New Zealand
Operator: Napier City Council
Seating Capacity: 19,700
Field size: 140 m x 130 m
Surface: Rye grass on a sand base
Floodlights: Yes
End names: Centennial Stand End , Embankment End
Home team: Central Districts
Construction Architect (Contractor): Louis Hay
Boundary Length (Dimensions): 153 yd x 142 yd
Also known as: Sir Donald McLean Park
McLean Park Ground Dimensions
The ground is relatively compact compared to some other New Zealand venues, encouraging aggressive stroke play.
Leg Side Boundary Length: 61 meters
Off Side Boundary Length: 69 meters
Straight Boundary Length: 79 meters
Back Side Boundary Length: 61 meters
Short square boundaries and a quick outfield contribute to frequent boundaries.
McLean Park Ground Records and Venue Stats: T20, ODI, Test
T20 Stats
Total Matches: 7
Matches won batting first: 2
Matches won bowling first: 4
Average 1st innings Score: 164
Average 2nd innings Score: 138
Highest total recorded: 241
Lowest total recorded: 160
Highest score chased: 177
Lowest score defended: 173
Tie: 1
ODI Stats
Total Matches: 51
Matches won batting first: 20
Matches won bowling first: 27
Average 1st innings Score: 236
Average 2nd innings Score: 197
Highest total recorded: 373
Lowest total recorded: 98
Highest score chased: 289
Lowest score defended: 162
Tie: 4
Test Stats
Total Matches: 10
Matches won batting first: 3
Matches won bowling first: 0
Ties: 7
Average 1st innings Score: 361
Average 2nd innings Score: 283
Average 3rd innings Score: 342
Average 4th innings Score: 186
Highest total recorded: 619
Lowest total recorded: 51
Highest score chased: 0
Lowest score defended: 185
Tie: 7
McLean Park Cricket Stadium Is Batting Pitch Or Bowling Pitch?
Statistical Analysis
- In ODIs, bowling-first teams have slightly more wins (27 vs 20), suggesting chasing advantage.
- In T20s, bowling-first teams also have more success.
- In Tests, first-innings scores are very high (average 361), indicating strong batting conditions early.
Pitch Verdict
McLean Park is generally a batting-friendly surface, especially in the first innings. The pitch offers:
- True bounce
- Good carry
- Fast outfield
However, New Zealand's conditions can provide early swing for pacers. Once batters settle, scoring becomes easier.
It is not extremely bowler-dominant — high totals are common here.
Toss Prediction
The team winning the toss often prefers to bowl first in limited-overs formats, considering the chasing success rate.
In Test matches, batting first remains important due to high first-innings averages.
Who Will Win / Match Winner Prediction
Based on venue trends:
- Batting: 60%
- Bowling: 40%
Teams posting strong first-innings totals usually control the match.
Dream 11 Team Prediction
For Fantasy cricket at McLean Park:
- Select 3–4 top-order batters due to high-scoring potential.
- Include 2 all-rounders for balance.
- Pick 3 fast bowlers who can exploit early swing.
- Add 1 spinner depending on format.
- Captain choice should be an aggressive top-order batter or seam-bowling all-rounder.
Boundary hitters are valuable due to short square dimensions.
McLean Park Cricket Ground: Venue Stats
Average First Innings Score (ODI): 236
Average Second Innings Score (ODI): 197
Pitch Type: Batting-friendly with early seam movement
Highest Total Recorded: 373
Toss Advantage: Slight preference to bowl first (ODIs & T20s)
Type Of Pitch
McLean Park features a flat and hard surface with a quick outfield. The sand-based wicket ensures good drainage and consistent bounce. Fast bowlers benefit from swing under overcast conditions, but once the ball softens, batters can dominate.
It remains one of New Zealand's more batting-supportive venues.
McLean Park Ground: Head to Head
Historically, both batting-first and chasing teams have found success, but posting totals above the average first-innings score significantly increases winning probability.
Weather Report & Forecast
NAPIER WEATHER
Napier experiences a mild oceanic climate. Summers are warm and relatively dry, with temperatures around 20–25°C. Winters are cooler and wetter. Coastal winds can influence swing movement, and weather can shift quickly, sometimes impacting match conditions.