Riverside Ground pitch report: T20I records and average scores in Durham ahead of England vs India series opener
England and India get their five-match T20I series under way at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, Durham, on Wednesday, July 1.
The historic northern venue, now known as the Seat Unique Riverside, will stage the opener as both sides look to set an early tone.
India arrives desperate to bounce back after their shocking 0-2 series sweep by Ireland, with the spotlight firmly on whether teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally earns his debut.
England, meanwhile, begins a fresh white-ball cycle under captain Harry Brook on home soil.
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Riverside Ground pitch report: Is it a batting or bowling wicket in Durham?
The Riverside Ground is traditionally a balanced, sporting surface with good bounce and carry.
The new ball assists the seamers early on and under overcast skies, but batters get full value for their strokes once set. Recent matches have shown the pitch can be two-paced and offer spinners some grip through the middle.
What are the chances of dew at the Riverside Ground?
Dew is rarely a major factor in northern England during the height of summer.
With long daylight hours and cooler, breezier evening conditions in Durham in early July, any dew should be minimal and is unlikely to significantly trouble the bowlers of the side defending in the second innings.
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Highest score by a team at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
The highest team total in a T20I at the venue is England’s 195 for five against Australia in 2013. Powered by Alex Hales and Michael Lumb, that effort set up a 27-run win and remains the benchmark score at the ground in the format.
Lowest score by a team at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
At the other end of the scale, the lowest team total is England’s 118 for seven against South Africa in 2012.
The hosts were restricted in the first T20I of that series, and the Proteas chased the modest target down comfortably to win by seven wickets.
Average score at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
Across the five men’s T20Is staged here, the average first-innings total sits at around 163 runs. That points to a competitive surface where a score in the region of 170 to 180 is likely to be a strong, defendable total for the side batting first.
Highest individual score at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
Jos Buttler holds the record for the highest individual T20I score at the venue.
The wicketkeeper-batter smashed a brilliant 96 against West Indies in 2025, narrowly missing a hundred but anchoring England’s total and edging past Alex Hales’ previous best of 94.
Best bowling figures at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
The best bowling figures belong to England spinner Liam Dawson, who returned an outstanding 4 for 20 against West Indies in 2025. His match-winning spell on his return to the side bettered the 3 for 20 taken by West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite back in 2017.
Most runs at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
Among the leading run-scorers at the venue, England opener Alex Hales stands out, having accumulated 148 runs in his appearances here.
With the ground hosting only a handful of T20Is, aggregate tallies remain modest, but Hales’ contributions, headlined by his 94, lead the way.
Most wickets at the Riverside Ground in T20Is
With only five men’s T20Is played at the Riverside Ground, no bowler has built a commanding wicket tally at the venue.
The standout returns remain Dawson’s recent 4 for 20 and the three-wicket hauls claimed by Brathwaite and debutant Brydon Carse, who took 3 for 23 in 2023.
