Best Cricket Stadiums in the World in 2024
6 min readCricket also known as the “Gentleman’s Game” is one of the most popular sports in the world. Second only to Soccer, Cricket has an estimated global following of over 2.5 billion. One of the most integral aspects of sports is the venue, which plays a crucial role in the overall performance of the players and the experience of the fans.
Apart from India where cricket has been adapted into a ‘gully’ style, the rest of the world requires an arena. The sizes of the stadiums are compared based on spectator capacity.
Let’s take a tour of the best cricket stadiums in the world that have witnessed many major historic moments of the game.
Top Cricket Stadiums in the World
Here is our list of the world’s best cricket stadiums in the world that have a significant reputation in the history of cricket.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, England
If you are a cricket enthusiast, you know that Lord’s is regarded as the “home of cricket.” Established in 1814, it is the oldest cricket stadium in the world. It is located in St. Johns Wood, London and has a heritage of hosting some of the most important matches in the history of the sport.
Widely regarded as one of the best cricket grounds in the world, it hosts the popular Ashes series. It has a seating capacity of 32,000 and also features the Museum of MCC, which is renowned as the oldest sports museum in the world. The Long Room, the Pavillion, and the iconic pitch are all crucial elements of this stadium.
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Popularly known as “The G,” the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the best cricket stadiums in the world. Locally, it is known as the MCG and is located in the sporting capital of the world.
Even though it is regarded as a world-class cricket stadium, it is actually the home ground of the Australian Cricket Team along with four professional Aussie Rules Football teams. Moreover, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games have also been hosted in MCG.
Moreover, it is also one of the largest cricket grounds in the world with a seating capacity of over 100,000 spectators. Established in 1854, this venue has hosted some of the most memorable cricketing events in history, including the first-ever test match in 1877.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
Renowned as the “Home of Indian Cricket,” Eden Gardens is Cricket’s answer to the Colosseum. Established in 1864, this top cricket stadium in the world is owned and operated by the Cricket Association of Bengal. It is the second biggest cricket stadium in India. With a spectator capacity of 66,349, it has hosted prominent events like the Asia Cup and Cricket World Cup.
The first test match at the venue was played between the teams of India and England in 1934. Eden Gardens is named after the Eden sisters of Auckland, the then governor-general of India.
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia
Popularly known as the SCG, it is located in the heart of Sydney. Founded in 1848, the stadium is considered an architectural marvel. However, it has been renovated multiple times to keep up with modern aesthetics while maintaining its historic charm.
It has a seating capacity of 48,000 and is a home ground for many professional cricket teams. The famous cricket ground has also witnessed many amazing knocks and spells over the years. Cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman has a personal best score of 452 not out in 1929. South African pacer Fanie De’Villiers took a 10-wicket haul against Australia in 1993 on this cricket ground.
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa
Located in Cape Town, South Africa, Newlands is a scenic cricket stadium and also the home ground of the Cape Cobras. It is said to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world with mesmerizing views of Table Mountains and Devil’s Peak.
With a seating capacity of 25,000, it is one of the oldest cricket grounds in South Africa built way back in 1888. The first test match in the venue was played in 1889. It is one of the few cricket grounds in South Africa that favors pacers.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India
If we are listing the best cricket stadiums in the world, we can’t leave out Wankhede. Located in Mumbai, Wankhede is the home ground of the IPL team Mumbai Indians and is managed by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
It was renovated in 2011 for the final of the T20 World Cup when history was created and India won the World Cup. The stadium is close to the sea, meaning it favors spinners. With a seating capacity of 33,000 spectators, the stadium has hosted many memorable matches over the years, including the last match of the legendary Sir Sachin Tendulkar.
The Oval, Kensington, England
London isn’t just the home to Lord’s, it also features another one of the world’s best cricket stadiums. Located South of Thames, The Oval is considered to be the birthplace of Ashes. Today, it is known as the Kia Oval Stadium because of sponsorships.
Established in 1845, it is 31 years younger than Lord’s. However, its history is much older than that. The first recorded professional cricket match held at the Oval was on June 28, 1724. Traditionally, the last match of test cricket for the English Cricket season is hosted here. Nowadays, the renovated stadium offers a scenic setting for cricket lovers.
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Established in 1871, the Kensington Oval is nearly 150 years old. It was recently renovated and now holds a seating capacity of over 28,000 spectators.
Cricket is the national sport of West Indies and this is the most prominent ground in the country. Locally, people revere this venue as “The Mecca” of cricket. It is also home to the statue of Sirf Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest West Indies players of all time. It has hosted some memorable cricket tournaments, including the CWC 2007 and T20 EC 2010.
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Final Words
These are some of the best cricket stadiums in the world. Cricket has a rich history and some of these stadiums have witnessed some of the most memorable moments of the sport. All of these stadiums are a true testament to the hype and popularity of the sport of Cricket.
Cricket is a fantastic spectator sport and much like every spectator sport, the venue is an important factor in the overall experience. The stadiums are not just a place for sportsmen to showcase their skills, but they are also places where fans from different backgrounds come together and celebrate the spirit of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Ans. Lord’s also known as the “home of cricket” is the best cricket stadium in the world. Built-in 1814, it is a dream of every cricketer to play on Lord’s ground at least once in their life.
Ans. The Narendra Modi Stadium (NMS), is the largest cricket stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators.
Ans. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamshala and the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa offer one of the most beautiful scenic views of nearby scenery.