England and Australia played the first international cricket match in 1877. The game took place at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Cricket gradually progressed, resulting in the creation of more cricket grounds. Not only England and Australia, but also India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, contributed to the development of gorgeous cricket stadiums.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, also known as the “Mecca of Cricket”, is the world’s oldest cricket ground, with Trent Bridge coming in second.
Let’s examine the top ten oldest cricket grounds in the world:
1. Lord’s Cricket Ground (Year: 1814)
Lord’s, the world’s oldest cricket stadium, is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world. On July 21, 1884, the venue staged its maiden match, between England and Australia.
The ground was named after its founder, Thomas Lord. Marylebone Cricket Club owns the ground and is home to Middlesex County Cricket Club.
Lord’s can hold up to 30 000 spectators. Moreover, the ground has hosted 139 test matches, 67 ODI matches, and 10 T20 internationals since 1883.
2. Trent Bridge (Year: 1830)
Trent Bridge, one of England’s top cricket venues, hosted its first test match in 1899. The stadium is the second oldest cricket venue in the country, and it has provided opportunities for players such as Gary Sobers, Clive Rice, and Richard Hadlee.
It’s the same ground where Australia was beaten for 60 runs in 2015, giving Stuart Broad his best bowling statistics of 8-15. Trent Bridge Stadium has a seating capacity of 17,500 people.
3. The Oval Cricket Ground (Year: 1845)
The Oval cricket stadium, a historic cricket ground with a rich history, is famous for holding the first-ever international match on English soil in September 1880. In that match, England defeated Australia by 5 wickets.
This cricket ground is considered to be the world’s third oldest cricket ground, having been established in 1845. In addition, the Oval cricket stadium is well-known for holding important athletic events.
The Oval also hosted England’s first international football match versus Scotland. The stadium, located in Kennington, London, has a seating capacity of 23,500.
4. Sydney Cricket Ground (Year: 1848)
Sydney Cricket Ground is a batsman’s paradise, with a reputation for delivering high-scoring matches. Having been built in 1848, it is the fourth-oldest cricket ground in the world and the oldest in Australia. It can accommodate 44,002 people.
The first international test match was played at Sydney Cricket Ground in 1882 between Australia and England, while the first ODI was played in 1979 between the same teams.
5. Melbourne Cricket Ground (Year: 1853)
The renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia needs no introduction. For those unaware, MCG is the world’s second-largest cricket ground, seating nearly a million people.
Melbourne Cricket Ground is the world’s fifth oldest cricket ground. It was founded in 1853, and the first international test match was played on March 15, 1877.
The MCG recently hosted the final of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup between India and Australia, which drew the largest audience ever in a women’s game. The game drew a crowd of up to 86,174 spectators.
6. Old Trafford (Year: 1857)
Old Trafford, England’s most famous cricket ground, serves as a breeding ground for many bowlers across the world. The Old Trafford is the world’s sixth-oldest cricket stadium.
The Old Trafford cricket stadium was built in 1857 and hosted the first Ashes Test in 1884.
The first test match was played at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in 1884 between England and Australia, while the first one-day game was staged in 1972 between the same teams.
Shane Warne, the legendary spinner, produced the ball of the century for Mike Gatting at this very pitch, leaving everyone speechless.
7. Eden Gardens (Year: 1864)
Eden Gardens, India’s top cricket venue, is second-largest cricket arena in India. The stadium has witnessed some of the best cricket matches ever played.
It was founded in 1864. It also serves as the home stadium for the Bengal Cricket Team and the Kolkata Knight Riders. Eden Gardens can accommodate 66,000 people.
The first test match was played here in 1934 between India and England, while the first ODI was played here in 1987 between India and Pakistan.
Eden Garden recently hosted India and Bangladesh in the first-ever day-night test match in India. India easily won that game by an innings and 46 runs.
Also Read: Top 5: Indian Stadiums that hosted the Most Test Matches
8. Basin Reserve (Year: 1868)
Basin Reserve, New Zealand’s oldest cricket stadium, is a happy hunting ground for teams looking for huge totals. It is the seventh oldest cricket venue in the world, with a seating capacity of only 11,600.
The Basin Reserve Stadium was established in 1868. Basin Reserve is best known for holding test matches, but it also hosts concerts, sporting events, and other social activities. In 1930, New Zealand and England played the inaugural test match at Basin Reserve.
9. Adelaide Oval (Year: 1873)
Adelaide Oval, with a seating capacity of about 50,000, is known for its carnival-like atmosphere that produces unforgettable matches.
The Adelaide Oval is Australia’s third oldest cricket stadium, following Sydney Cricket Ground and Melbourne Cricket Ground. Overall, it ranks ninth on the list of the world’s oldest cricket fields.
Adelaide Oval, which was built in 1873, has gone on to host some of the finest cricket games ever played in International cricket.
The first test match was played at Adelaide Oval in 1884 between Australia and England, and the first ODI was played against the West Indies in 1975.
10. Galle International Stadium (Year: 1876)
Galle International Stadium is one of the most attractive sites in Sri Lanka and also the country’s oldest cricket stadium. The Stadium was built in 1876 and has been one of Sri Lanka’s most successful sports venues.
It hosted a test match against New Zealand for the first time in January 1998, while the first ODI was played on June 25, 1998, against Sri Lanka.
Most of these stadiums have also hosted the most number of Test matches. You can find more on this by clicking the link below.
Read Next: Top 10: Most Test Matches on a Single Ground
