Situated in suburban Canberra, this picturesque ground is best known as the host of the annual match between the Prime Minister's XI and an overseas touring side, though it is also the home of the ACT Comets.
It was Robert Menzies who instigated the first PM's XI match against the touring MCC side from England in 1954/55, the fixture lapsing after his retirement as prime minister in 1966, until former Oxford University player Bob Hawke resurrected it in 1983/84. The ground has been the scene of occasional first-class fixtures as a home venue for New South Wales, the first of these in 1978/79 when the SCG was in unsuitable condition.
Manuka Oval was the venue of the World Cup match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1992, and became a regular venue for major limited-over cricket with the birth of the Canberra Comets in 1997/98. The venue hosted a CB Series match between India and Sri Lanka in 2008, marking a return to international cricket after 16 years. Floodlights were installed in time for the 2012/13 summer, and were used for the PM's XI game and also an ODI between Australia and the West Indies - the first time the home team had played in the nation's capital.
One of the features of the ground is the Jack Fingleton Scoreboard. This was originally the scoreboard at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, recycled when the MCG installed its first electronic board in the early 1980's. It was relocated to Manuka and named after the late Australian opening batsman who made his career as a political journalist in the corridors of Parliament House, just a few kilometres away.
Manuka Oval is Canberra's home of Cricket and AFL. The picturesque venue has a seating capacity of 13,550 and a total capacity of 15,000, hosting BBL and international cricket matches, the annual Prime Minister's XI match and a number of GWS Giants AFL home games each year.
Manuka Oval received a $9 million upgrade in 2001 further ensuring the ground's status as the permanent home for both Cricket and Australian Football in Canberra. Features of the redevelopment included new tiered seating, extending the terraces at the northern and southern ends with individual stadium seating, Inner bowl of stadium seating in front of concrete terraces, Two new toilet blocks and refurbishment of remaining toilets, Construction of a viewing bank on the eastern side to accommodate corporate marquees or portable seating, and Minor landscape improvements. Years later, a roof has been added to the majority of the tiered seating.
The installation of six new 47-metre high light towers was completed in 2013 at a cost of $5.3 million, with the venue now able to host night events including international cricket and AFL. A permanent video screen and additional seating was also installed during the venue's most recent upgrade. In late 2013, a new playing surface was installed with improved drainage and irrigation, new fence and player dugouts, and a new media centre opened in late 2018. The venue hosted its first Test Match in January 2019.
