It’s such an exciting sight to watch a cricket match in a stadium, and there are plenty of these around the world. Seeing millions of fans screaming and jeering at their favourite teams and players. Today World In Sport picks out the five best stadiums around the World.
5. Wanderers Stadium: Johannesburg, South Africa
Also known as the Bull Ring, The Imperial Wanderers Stadium is South Africa’s biggest cricket stadium with a capacity of 34,000 seats. Built in 1966, The Wanderers has witnessed some extraordinary games, including the Proteas’ epic run-chase of 434 against Australia.
Herschelle Gibbs was the star of the show with an epic 175 off 111 balls, after Ricky Ponting’s 164 from 105 propelled Australia to the mammoth score.
The Bull-Riing was also one of the venues for the 2003 50-Over World Cup and the 2007 inaugural 20-Over World Cup and had hosted both finals.
Australia were 50-over Champions, beating India in the Final by 125 runs.
The Indian’s got their redemption by defeating Pakistan in the 20-over Final by Five runs.
In total, the Wanderers have hosted a total of 114 International matches, consisting of 44 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 32 T20 Internationals.
4. Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG) Melbourne, Australia
Home to the great Shane Warne, the MCG is the biggest ground in Australia, and the second biggest in the world. Opened in 1853, the MCG has a capacity of 100,024 and has hosted a total of 112 Tests, 32 ODI’s, and 27 T20 International Matches.
One of the iconic events at this ground is the Boxing Day Test, in which Australia has won 22 out of 40 Tests beginning on 26th December.
The MCG is also the home ground of Big Bash franchises Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.
The Renegades won the Big Bash Title in 2018-19, beating the Stars in the final by 13 runs.
While the Stars are yet to win a Title.
This ground has also hosted both World Cup Finals. Australia won the 50-over edition in 2015, beating New Zealand by seven wickets.
While England won the 20-Over edition in 2022, defeating Pakistan in the final by five wickets.
Other than cricket, there are other sports that take place at this stadium such as Aussie Rules Football, The MCG is the home ground of Melbourne FC.
3. The Kia Oval, London, England
The UK also has its share of picturesque cricket stadiums around, and the Kia Oval is one of them. Home to Surrey County Cricket Club and The Hundred franche team Oval invincibles, The Oval is also the UK’s fifth biggest ground with a capacity of 23,500 seats
The Oval has played host to 106 Tests, 75 ODIs, and 16 T20Is, and has one of the fastest wickets in the world. It recently hosted the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia, in which Pat Cummins’s side won by 209 runs.
Pakistan also won the ICC Champions Trophy on this ground in 2017, beating India in the Final by 180 runs.
The Oval is not only the home of Surrey County Cricket Club but is also the Oval Invincibles who won this year’s Hundred Competition.
2. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
Previously called the Sardar Patel Stadium in 1982, the stadium was knocked down in 2015 and then rebuilt with a new name associated with the Prime Minister of India who is also from the area in which the stadium is situated.
It is the home ground of the iPL franchise Gujarat Titans, who won their first Title in 2022, defeating the Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets.
Team India has also hosted 15 Tests at this venue, one of which was a day/night match against England.
1. Lord’s Cricket Ground
Nothing is quite like The Home of Cricket. Opened by the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1814, Lord’s is the oldest cricket ground in England, which saw its first-ever Test match in 1884.
Lord’s is one of the world’s iconic sporting venues along with the likes of The All England Club in Wimbledon, and Wembley Stadium.
The ground was named after Thomas Lord, who was a former cricketer from 1787 to 1802.
Lord was a bowler, taking 148 wickets in 59 matches. He was also a good batsman, scoring 899 runs.
Since that time, the venue has hosted 142 Tests, 70 ODIs, and 10 T20Is thus far.
Lord’s is also the home group of Middlesex County Cricket Club and The Hundred franchise London Spirit.
England has also won three 50-over World Cups on this ground, starting with the women, who beat New Zealand in 1993, and India in 2017.
And finally, Eoin Morgan’s men won via a dramatic Super Over in 2019.
Another feature that makes Lord’s different from any other ground is the 5-minute bell.
This is rung by a member of the MCC, to alert the players that they have five minutes to get onto the field before the match starts on time.
So these are World In Sport’s top 5 cricket grounds, What are yours?
