The 10 Oldest Cricket Grounds In The World

With mentions of cricket dating back to the 14th century, cricket is a sport rich in history and heritage. As a result of its lengthy history, it is no surprise that there are cricket grounds and stadiums that have been around for centuries as well. In fact, the oldest stadium, Lord’s Cricket Ground, dates back over two centuries to its establishment in 1814 in London. Other historic stadiums include Trent Bridge, founded in 1838, and The Oval, in 1845.

10 Oldest Cricket Grounds In The World

1. Lord’s Cricket Ground - 1814

Lord’s Cricket Ground, in St. John’s Wood, London, is the oldest cricket venue in the world and also one of the oldest sporting stadiums. It is named after Thomas Lord, its founder and a professional cricket player in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Technically, the current ground followed two prior grounds that were eventually moved to St. John's wood after the first was built in Dorset Square in 1787. Today, however, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is its owner, while the Middlesex County Cricket Club plays its games there. After forgoing redevelopments and renovations between 2017 and 2022, the stadium can now hold 31,100 spectators. Due to its elaborate history, many people refer to this stadium as the “Home of Cricket.”

2. Trent Bridge - 1838

Trent Bridge, located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England, is the world’s second-oldest cricket ground, established in 1838. The first recorded match was held that same year in an area behind the Trent Bridge Inn. Later, William Clarke, the husband of the inn’s owner and captain of the All-England Eleven cricket team, opened an official ground in 1841. Due to Trent Bridge’s architecture, which was largely developed in 1889, many consider it to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world. Today, the stadium can seat up to 17,500 spectators.

3. The Oval - 1845

The Oval Cricket Ground in Kennington, London, was established in 1845 after the Duchy of Cornwall granted permission to lease the land for cricket. Since its establishment in 1845, it has been home to the Surrey County Cricket Club. It was also the first English ground to host an international test cricket match in September 1880. Symbolically, the final test match of the season in England is played in The Oval as well. Besides cricket, The Oval has also hosted football matches, the FA Cup Final in 1872, and various national and international rugby matches.

4. Sydney Cricket Ground - 1848

The Sydney Cricket Ground, situated in Moore Park in eastern Sydney, Australia, has hosted cricket matches since 1848, making it the fourth oldest in the world. Around this time, the city granted a portion of the land to British soldiers for use as a cricket ground and garden. As teams formed in the following years, the ground was officially named the Garrison Ground in 1854, with the Garrison Club emerging as a team composed of players from various other teams. Today, the stadium has since changed its name to the Sydney Cricket Ground and has a capacity for a little over 40,000 spectators, offering close-up views of the field for nearly all spectators.

5. Melbourne Cricket Ground - 1853

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Yarra Park, Melbourne, was built in 1853 for the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), which needed a new location after railway construction disrupted their previous ground. Since then, the stadium has hosted an array of games, including the 1992 World Cup Final, various VFL/AFL Grand Finals, and even the 1956 Olympic Games. It underwent major renovations in 1992 and 2006 and is expected to undergo more renovations in 2032. Holding a capacity for a little over 100,000 spectators, it is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest cricket stadium and the 11th largest worldwide.

6. Old Trafford - 1857

The Old Trafford Cricket Ground opened in Greater Manchester, England, in 1857 to house the Manchester Cricket Club. Today, it is home to the Lancashire County Cricket Club, which has had its base there since 1864. The stadium has hosted a variety of important events, including five Cricket World Cups. The capacity of the venue depends on the purpose of the event: For domestic cricket matches, it can host about 19,000 spectators, and for international matches, it can host 26,000. Its capacity is the largest for concerts, however, holding up to 50,000.

7. Eden Gardens - 1864

Founded in 1864, Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, India, is the oldest cricket stadium in India and the seventh oldest in the world. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is the owner, while the residing cricket team is the Kolkata Knight Riders. In 1987, the stadium underwent renovations and expansions that increased the capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 to host the 1987 Cricket World Cup. However, another round of renovations in 2011, which included new player facilities and a clubhouse, resulted in a reduction of seating capacity. Today, the stadium seats around 68,000.

8. Basin Reserve - 1868

The Basin Reserve, located in Wellington, New Zealand, is the world’s eighth oldest cricket ground, established in 1868 following a citizens’ petition to the Provincial Council for a permanent cricket ground. Today, it is the main headquarters for the Wellington Firebirds first-class team. Due to its status as the oldest cricket ground in New Zealand, it is also a Heritage New Zealand site. In addition to test matches, Basin Reserve has also hosted concerts, cultural events, and association football matches and has a seating capacity of 11,600 spectators.

9. Adelaide Oval - 1873

The Adelaide Oval was established in 1873 in North Adelaide, South Australia, to serve as the home of the newly formed South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), which still uses the grounds as its headquarters today. South Australian National Football League (SANFL) has also been using the Adelaide Oval as its home location since 2014. Despite recent developments and renovations to increase capacity, many consider the Adelaide Oval to be one of the most scenic test venues in cricket due to its position between gardens, trees, and the spire of St Peter's Cathedral in the background. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000.

10. Galle International Stadium - 1876

Galle International Stadium, in Galle, Sri Lanka, was constructed in 1876 to be a race course. Eventually, however, racing ceased to take place in the stadium, causing it to transition to a ground for cricket. The first school cricket match, known as the “Galle Esplanade,” took place in this venue in 1888, with the first first-class match happening in 1984. Today, the stadium is home to the Galle Cricket Club. It has a seating capacity of about 35,000 spectators and has a picturesque location, sitting near the Galle Fort with the Indian Ocean surrounding it on two sides.

Final Thoughts

Although the exact origins of cricket are largely unknown, fans of the sport can appreciate its history through these old and momentous cricket grounds that continue to stand today. In fact, not only do these cricket grounds continue to stand, but they continue to host games, events, and concerts, showing their continued relevance centuries later. With many of these grounds having undergone renovations in the past few decades and some with renovation plans still ahead, it is clear that these cricket grounds will continue serving the communities they reside in for many years to come.