A venue which holds a special place in the hearts of Indian fans - Sunil Gavaskar scored his 10,000th Test run and Kapil Dev broke the world record for Test wickets here.

Batsmen have tended to do well on a traditionally slow pitch - the average team score in the last four one-dayers is 260 and twice teams have successfully chased targets of more than 300.

England, who play one of their group games here, do not have fond memories of their only previous visit.

They were beaten by New Zealand in the 1996 World Cup when Nathan Astle, who was dropped on one went on to score a century.

After hosting its first one-day international in 1983, this ground was overlooked by the Indian cricket board for from 1999-2005 because of poor management and facilities.

But a new regime at the Rajasthan Cricket Association has impressed the BCCI with a �1m redevelopment programme to secure six games, including the Australia-England showdown and the second semi-final.

The Ashes rivals will have to go some to surpass the excitement of the most recent game in the Pink City.

Explosive wicket-keeper/batsman Mahendra Dhoni smashed a sensational 183 off 145 balls - including 10 sixes - to guide India to victory over Sri Lanka in October 2005.

Opened in 1993, on the outskirts of the city of Chandigarh, the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium originally tended to favour fast bowlers, but has become gradually slower.

Of the nine one-day internationals to be staged there, the most memorable is the 1996 World Cup semi-final.

Australia were 15-4 before Stuart Law (72) and Michael Bevan (69) led them to 207-8.

West Indies were cruising on 165-2 but after the dismissal of Shivnarine Chanderpaul (80) they collapsed spectacularly to 202 all out, Shane Warne finishing with 4-36.

Mohali will host five matches, including India v Australia and the first semi-final.

Named after the peer and city governor who gave Mumbai this 69-year-old ground, this was the original cricketing venue in Mumbai.

But it now plays second fiddle to the nearby Wankhede Stadium as home for India's matches in the country's commercial capital.

The famous old ground lost its international status in 1995 but has wooed the BCCI back to the extent that five matches will be held here, including the final.

Of the four venues, this is the most likely to favour fast bowlers, with the coastal humidity playing a part.

The previous three one-dayers here were low-scoring affairs and there have been few huge totals at the Wankhede either.