Harare Sports Club: Seating Capacity, History and Other Facts

It is a stadium used primarily for cricket, but it also plays rugby, tennis, golf and squash. The Harare Sports Club was established in 1900 and hosts international cricket on a regular basis. Located in Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland Central, the stadium is home to the Mashonaland Eagles, who play first-class cricket and limited overs cricket. Zimbabwe Cricket owns and operates the stadium. Floodlights are installed at the cricket venue so that games can be played both during the day and at night.

History

Salisbury Sports Club has played its first-class cricket match since 1910. Rhodesia played home matches in South Africa's main domestic first-class competition, the Currie Cup, several times between World War II and independence from the United Kingdom at the ground between World War II and independence.

Following independence, the ground hosted its first List A match in September 1980. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the Zimbabwe national team regularly played first-class and List A matches at the ground against touring national 'A', 'B' and youth teams. Zimbabwe acquired Test status in July 1992 after becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The country played its first Test match at Harare Sports Club three months later, against India. In the following year, the ground hosted its first One Day International, also against India. As a result of Zimbabwe's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan in February 1995, HSC has been Zimbabwe's most important Test and one-day venue since October 1992.

In 1956, Rhodesia's game against the MCC attracted 26,000 fans, a record crowd for a cricket match in the country. The club itself does not possess any of the major stands associated with major sports grounds, but temporary stands can increase the capacity to around 10,000. Nevertheless, even games against major touring sides do not draw more than moderate crowds, so that capacity is rarely tested. In addition to the pavilion, the other end of the ground has Castle Corner, an alternative bar that is usually lively. It is home to Zimbabwe Cricket, the board of the country.

Location

In the heart of Harare, the Harare Sports Club is surrounded by Jacaranda trees and is home to a beautiful gabled pavilion. On one side, the heavily guarded presidential palace dominates the grounds, while on the other, the prestigious Royal Harare Golf Club dominates the grounds.

Seating Capacity

Though being an old stadium this venue has the capacity to accommodate 10000 spectators.

Pitch Details

A team chasing totals has found this ground to be slightly more enjoyable. It has generally not been a very high-scoring ground, with both the first and second innings averages reading under 250. Only in 2014 (Australia vs Zimbabwe) was a team able to exceed 350 on this surface. It has been recorded that only 31 T20I matches have taken place in Harare. The team which batted first has won 20 games, while the team which is chasing won 11. As with most African decks, the surface at HSC is more conducive to pacers, especially those who swing the ball a lot. In the first innings, the average score is close to 160, but drops down to 140 when chasing. Due to the grassy surface, quick bowlers are well suited to the surface early in a match. Given the better performance of teams who bat second, it makes sense for the captain to bowl first.