Chapter 4: Clubs & Grounds

Kent's ground rule made any shot striking the tree worth four, and a batter could not be caught off a rebound from it. The old tree broke in a gale in January 2005 and a younger lime replaced it.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'Kent to replace the lime tree' (2005); ESPNcricinfo, St Lawrence Ground profile · recall

No ordinary builder could make its curved shell, so it was made of welded aluminium sections by Pendennis, a Cornish yacht builder; it was the world's first all-aluminium semi-monocoque building.

Source: AL_A (Amanda Levete's practice), 'Lord's Media Centre' project page (ala.uk.com); Pendennis Shipyard, 15th anniversary note · recall

The vane, a gift from the architect Sir Herbert Baker in 1926, was caught by a barrage balloon's cable; it was repaired and put back.

Source: Lord's, 'Father Time Wall: 1926, the Father Time weathervane is gifted to MCC' (lords.org) · recall

Sharjah staged its 250th ODI in September 2024, Afghanistan against South Africa; it entered the record book on reaching 200.

Source: Gulf News, 'Sharjah Cricket Stadium enters Guinness Book of World Records'; myKhel, 250th ODI at Sharjah (September 2024) · recall

On 29 May 2022 the crowd watched Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in their home city.

Source: Guinness World Records, largest attendance at a T20 cricket match (guinnessworldrecords.com) · recall

C. W. Alcock was both FA secretary and Surrey secretary, so the Oval hosted the first FA Cup final, Wanderers 1 Royal Engineers 0, and almost every final until 1892.

Source: Kia Oval, 'FA Cup celebrates 150th anniversary with Oval projection' (kiaoval.com) · recall

Staff climb ladders inside it to change the numbers during matches; it has been on South Australia's heritage register since 1986.

Source: City of Adelaide heritage places, Adelaide Oval Scoreboard (experienceadelaide.com.au); The Cricketer, Adelaide Oval ground guide · recall

1911, 1926, 1973 and 1999.

Source: City of Adelaide heritage places; Lord's Father Time Wall; Heritage New Zealand; AL_A, Lord's Media Centre · recall

1872, 1984 (the first Asia Cup), 2022 and 2024.

Source: Kia Oval; ESPNcricinfo, 1984 Asia Cup; Guinness World Records; Gulf News and myKhel on Sharjah's ODIs · recall

A 1961 motorway plan would have destroyed most of the ground; the roundabout announced in 1969 and finished in 1973 saved it. In 1998 it became the first sports ground registered as a Historic Area in New Zealand.

Source: Heritage New Zealand, Basin Reserve Historic Area (heritage.org.nz); Wellington City Council, Basin Reserve history · recall

MCC itself says the red and yellow are known around the world as 'egg and bacon'.

Source: MCC, 'Our History' (lords.org/mcc/the-club/our-history) · recall

The club's original colour was sky blue; why it changed is not certain, with a gin maker's livery and the Duke of Richmond's racing colours both suggested.

Source: MCC, 'Our History' (lords.org/mcc/the-club/our-history) · recall

The name, suggested over dinner by one of the founders, fits a club with no home ground of its own.

Source: I Zingari, club history (i-zingari.com) · recall

Yorkshire had signed Craig McDermott, who was injured; the 19-year-old Tendulkar came in his place and made 1,070 first-class runs that season.

Source: Yorkshire County Cricket Club, 'On this day in 1992... Tendulkar debuted for Yorkshire' (yorkshireccc.com); Wisden · recall

For its first fifteen years every penny the club raised went to the National Playing Fields Association, for cricket projects; it became a registered charity in 1964.

Source: Lord's Taverners, 'Our Story' (lordstaverners.org) · recall

The first committee meeting was held on 3 July 1950 at the Comedy Theatre, now the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Source: Lord's Taverners, 'Our Story' (lordstaverners.org) · recall

A meeting in Brighton in 1836 set up a Sussex Cricket Fund for county matches; the county club was formed from it in 1839.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'A brief history of Sussex' (espncricinfo.com) · recall

1839, 1845, 1863 and 1950.

Source: ESPNcricinfo (Sussex); i-zingari.com; Yorkshire CCC; Lord's Taverners · recall

Out of darkness (black), through fire (red), into light (gold); members wear them with the gold uppermost.

Source: I Zingari, club history (i-zingari.com) · recall

Mitcham's pavilion, built in 1904, stands across the road from Cricket Green in south London, one of the oldest grounds still in use.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Mitcham Green ground profile; Go Parks London, Cricket Green, Merton (goparks.london) · recall

The gates were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker, eight years after Grace died.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

It replaced an older pavilion and has stood behind the Long Room ever since.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

MCC bought Henderson's Nursery, a market garden, in 1887 to enlarge the ground.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

MCC members play the game on a court behind the Pavilion.

Source: MCC, real tennis at Lord's (lords.org) · recall

The bell hangs outside the Pavilion; former players and other guests take turns.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

Archers shot across the outfield, with the Pavilion as a backdrop.

Source: Lord's (lords.org); London 2012 venues · recall

The Regent's Canal was planned across the site, so Lord moved his turf to St John's Wood.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

1814, 1890, 1923, 1987 and 2012.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

1787, 1811 and 1814; he took his turf with him each time.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

The architect Michael Hopkins hung white fabric canopies over the old brick base.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

At about 1,450 metres it is one of the highest international grounds.

Source: BCCI; Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association · recall

The Portuguese began it; the Dutch rebuilt and extended it in the 1600s.

Source: UNESCO, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications · recall

Waves swept over the ground; it was rebuilt and Tests returned in 2007.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Galle International Stadium · recall

The ground lies near Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's South Island.

Source: New Zealand Cricket, venues · recall

The band plays through the day from a stand side of the ground.

Source: Cricket South Africa, venues · recall

Mauao, also called Mount Maunganui, rises over the town and the ground.

Source: New Zealand Cricket, venues · recall

It staged its first Test in 1989.

Source: Cricket Tasmania, venue history · recall

1889, 1998, 2017 and 2019.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds · recall

1998, 2004 and 2007.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Galle International Stadium · recall

Table Mountain and Devil's Peak look down on Newlands.

Source: Cricket South Africa, venues · recall

Brisbane's Tests moved to the Gabba from 1931.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Brisbane Exhibition Ground · recall

The damage was too great to repair, and the ground was later demolished.

Source: Christchurch City Council; ESPNcricinfo · recall

Bourda, opened in the 1880s, staged its last Test in 2005.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Guyana's Test grounds · recall

Jaitley had been president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Arun Jaitley Stadium · recall

A dog track ran round the oval until the ground was rebuilt.

Source: Brisbane Cricket Ground (thegabba.com.au), history · recall

Australia won by 146 runs in December 2018.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Australia v India, Perth 2018 · recall

The rebuilt ground is the largest cricket stadium in the world.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Narendra Modi Stadium · recall

1928, 1973, 1993, 2011, 2018 and 2019.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

1902, 1928, 1930 and 2018.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds · recall

Yorkshire left after the football club built a new stand across the cricket field.

Source: Yorkshire CCC heritage; ESPNcricinfo · recall

The suburb's name comes from an Aboriginal word for the area.

Source: Brisbane Cricket Ground (thegabba.com.au) · recall

The association has run the ground since the 1890s.

Source: WACA (waca.com.au), history · recall

Emily and Fanny Eden were sisters of Lord Auckland, Governor-General in the 1830s.

Source: Cricket Association of Bengal, Eden Gardens history · recall

He had spoken in support of Pakistan at a conference in Lahore that year.

Source: Pakistan Cricket Board, Gaddafi Stadium · recall

He had led the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the state association.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium · recall

He was president of the Bombay Cricket Association when the ground was built in 1974.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Wankhede Stadium · recall

The stand backs on to the rugby league ground next door.

Source: Yorkshire CCC, Headingley · recall

January 1934, February 1934, 1956 and 1959.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds · recall

1877, 1882, 1884, 1931, 1970 and 1989.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds · recall

Visiting players often speak of the noise of the crowd there.

Source: Cricket South Africa, venues · recall

It was formed only three years after Melbourne itself was settled.

Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au), history · recall

The Padang sits in front of the old Supreme Court and City Hall.

Source: Singapore Cricket Club history · recall

Merion Golf Club, which has staged the US Open, began as part of the cricket club.

Source: Merion Cricket Club history · recall

Queen's Park Cricket Club, founded in 1891, owns and runs it.

Source: Queen's Park Cricket Club history · recall

It is the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.

Source: Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club history · recall

Lala Amarnath made India's first Test hundred there.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v England, Bombay 1933 · recall

The club's first ground was taken for railway yards, and the present one opened in 1956.

Source: Wanderers Club history · recall

1838, 1851, 1852, 1875 and 1888.

Source: Club histories · recall

1896, 1930, 1933 and 1984.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds · recall

Hong Kong Cricket Club, founded in 1851, moved to Wong Nai Chung Gap.

Source: Hong Kong Cricket Club history · recall

It has been played every summer since, apart from 2020.

Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history · recall

Troon beat Astwood Bank in the first final in 1972.

Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history · recall

Its owner Ben Brocklehurst had the idea.

Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history · recall

The American-born oil heir became a great patron of English cricket.

Source: Wormsley Cricket history · recall

England and Australia drew the four-day Test there in August 2013.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, England Women v Australia Women, Wormsley 2013 · recall

He was also President of MCC in 2002.

Source: Heartaches CC history; Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

Feral goats live on the cliffs around the ground.

Source: Lynton and Lynmouth Cricket Club history · recall

1972, 1992 and 2013.

Source: The Cricketer; Wormsley Cricket · recall

Hundreds of villages enter each spring; two reach the final in late summer.

Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup · recall

Reaching Lord's is the dream for every village side that enters.

Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup · recall

Hollies is best known for bowling Don Bradman for a duck in his last Test innings.

Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston stands · recall

Warne, a Victorian, had died that March.

Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au) · recall

The SCG also has stands named after Bill O'Reilly and Don Bradman.

Source: Sydney Cricket Ground (scgt.nsw.gov.au) · recall

Both were Barbadians and opened together for West Indies for over a decade.

Source: Barbados Cricket Association, Kensington Oval · recall

Ponting grew up in Launceston and played for Tasmania.

Source: Cricket Tasmania, venue history · recall

Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell, and their grandfather Vic Richardson, played for South Australia.

Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au) · recall

Anderson, from Burnley, was still playing when it was named.

Source: Lancashire Cricket, Emirates Old Trafford · recall

1991, 2014, 2017 and 2022.

Source: Ground histories · recall

1899, 1937, 1978 and 1992.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, player profiles · recall

In 1947 the pair scored over 7,000 first-class runs between them.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

It is the largest cricket stadium in the world.

Source: Gujarat Cricket Association; ESPNcricinfo · recall

It staged the opening ceremony and athletics; it later hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au) · recall

The hotel opened in 2016 beside the pavilion.

Source: Lancashire Cricket, Emirates Old Trafford · recall

Its iron frame, from the 1870s, is part of the view from the ground.

Source: Historic England, Kennington gasholder listing · recall

It replaced the WACA, which held about 20,000, as Perth's Test ground.

Source: Perth Stadium (optusstadium.com.au) · recall

The thin air helps the ball carry further.

Source: Cricket South Africa, venues · recall

The Anglican cathedral stands just across the road from the ground.

Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au) · recall

About 31,000, 60,000, 66,000, 100,000 and 132,000.

Source: Ground websites; ESPNcricinfo · recall

Near sea level, about 1,450 m, 1,750 m and 2,440 m.

Source: Ground and state association websites · recall

The Maharaja of Patiala had it built in 1893, at about 2,440 metres.

Source: Himachal Pradesh tourism, Chail cricket ground · recall