TIO Stadium, Darwin

Having hosted its first Test between Australia and Bangladesh from July 18-20, 2003 and the first ODI on August 31, 2008, Marrara Stadium is one of the recently developed ones in Australia. It is the premier outdoor stadium in Northern Territory, and watching cricket there is truly an exhilarating experience. Few grounds in Australia can match its intimacy and proximity to the action. The ground is flat and green, its superb condition attributable to Darwin’s unique climate. Marrara with a capacity crowd of 15,000 is also one of the country’s first outdoor venues to use a ‘drop-in’ pitch. To reach standards required for international cricket, the stadium underwent a $3million renovation, giving the contrast of an impressive modern stand on one side of the ground and a rural-style hill area on the other.