Nine of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world

Oli Fisher
during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Zimbabwe and Ireland at Bellerive Oval on March 7, 2015 in Hobart, Australia.

Everyone loves a good stadium. In any discipline of any sport, it’s important to respect a good ground when you see one, and some have become a spiritual home to spectators.

Some of them are carefully planned, crafted and built to resemble the most impressive of structures; while some rely on a beautiful backdrop or other significance in terms of location.

Here, we’ve picked out nine of the nicest stadiums in world cricket.

 

Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: A general view of the members pavilion during game six of the One Day International series between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground on February 17, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It opened back in 1848 (that’s 171 years ago, which is absolutely absurd) and the SCG has an unquantifiable amount of charm. The gorgeous twin pavillions, which have been built around nicely; a nice view of downtown; the old-green theme – it’s just an absolutely classic.

 

Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium (St. Lucia)

GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA - MAY 14: during the semi final of the ICC World Twenty20 between Australia and Pakistan at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on May 14, 2010 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)

The BCG only opened in 2002, but was one of the host venues for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and quickly became a fan favourite because of its incredible backdrop. Now named after Daren Sammy, who seems to have lost an R somewhere along the way, which is careless of him.

 

Galle International Stadium (Galle)

during Day One of the First Test match between Sri Lanka and England at Galle International Stadium on November 6, 2018 in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Speaking of backdrops, it doesn’t get much more dramatic than this, surely? Behind the bowler’s arm at one end of the Galle International Stadium is an old Dutch fort, which provides one of the best vantage points anywhere on the international circuit.

 

Newlands (Capetown)

during the 5th Momentum ODI match between South Africa and England at Newlands Stadium on February 14, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Suppose sometimes pictures just don’t really need explaining, do they?

 

Pukekura Park (New Plymouth, New Zealand)

NEW PLYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 04: during the Ford Trophy match between the Central Stags and the Northern Districts at Pukekura Park on February 4, 2017 in New Plymouth, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

This is for all those junior cricket teams who, when they were younger, had aspirations of turning their local club ground at the nearby park into a 10,000 seater. Pukekura Park has only ever hosted one ODI back in 1992, but it’s in the middle of a 128-acre park, which strangely reminds us of Peasholm Park in Scarborough…

 

Queenstown Events Centre (Otago)

during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Yes, that’s a mountain. Yes, that’s a plane taking off. And yes, that’s a Test match taking place. Pretty amazing, right?

 

Bellerive Oval (Tasmania)

during the 2015 Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Scotland at Bellerive Oval on March 14, 2015 in Hobart, Australia.

This is another one where perhaps the stadium structure isn’t the most inspiring, but it is absolutely prime real estate. Looking out over the River Derwent towards Hobart, the Bellerive Oval has seen its fair share of amazing sunsets, too…

 

Arnos Vale Cricket Ground (St. Vincent)

A general view of the ground during the Cricket World Cup 2007 Warm Up Match between Australia and Zimbabwe at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex on March 6, 2007, in Kingston, St Vincent.

Right on the coast once again, the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St. Vincent is such a charming ground to look at. Full of character (look at the facade of the pavilion, for example) – this really is one of the Windies’ hidden gems. Oh, and it somehow holds 18,000.

 

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (Dharamsaala)

during an Australian nets session ahead of the ICC 2016 Twenty20 World Cup on March 16, 2016 in Dharamsala, India.

It was actually really hard to pick a picture that shows how magnificent this stadium is, but this one shows just how much it looks like a stadium has been plonked in the middle of a mountain range. It’s the highest cricket ground in the world – 2,250 m above sea level – and they’ve decided to make the seats multicoloured. We simply must visit some day.