Natural grandeur
Australia's most stunning cricket ground is right here in Tassie
Bellerive means "beautiful river bank", and the Oval delivers upon its name in every way. The ground rests upon an esplanade of the Derwent estuary, Hobart's deep-water harbour, gazing onto yachts, birds and the distant Antarctic. The picturesque coastal setting is crowned by the glorious vision of Mount Wellington looming over the horizon.
Australia v Pakistan, Benson & Hedges World Series, 1992
Bellerive was still in its infancy as an international ground when it hosted a dogged tie. Australia, following a solid opening 228, picked apart Pakistan's top order despite an obstinate Saleem Malik. Asif Mujtaba enjoyed his final hour as he flailed with the tail, though, dismantling Steve Waugh's last over for 16 to a level result.
After a wretched Ashes tour, England's first joy came as James Anderson hit form to take four wickets in New Zealand's opening innings. The English laboured over the chase, however, and it took a doughty 72 off 75 deliveries from Andrew Flintoff - with a drive from the match's penultimate ball - to see their first win of the summer. They went on to be unlikely eventual victors in the ODI series.
Most runs Sachin Tendulkar, 296 at 59.2 | Top score Adam Gilchrist, 172 v Zimbabwe
Most wickets Wasim Akram, 11 at 14.54 | Best bowling Ottis Gibson, 5 for 42 v Sri Lanka
Tasmanian cricket toiled a long time before entering domestic competition, and though it has produced three outstanding international cricketers, the island always been hampered by its small population. Recent international players such as Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Paine, George Bailey, Xavier Doherty and Matthew Wade have not lived up to their promise, but the likes of Alex Doolan and James Faulkner show great potential.
Benjamin, a resident of Melbourne, is writing a thesis on "Music about Donald Bradman"