# Chapter 4: Clubs & Grounds

Cricket · Chapter 4: Clubs & Grounds · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/cricket/interesting-facts/chapter-4-clubs-grounds/)

Grounds with stories of their own and the clubs behind the game: a tree inside the boundary, a press box built like a yacht, a ground ringed by traffic, record crowds and record fixtures.

## 4.41 Grounds with a Story

Odd features and records of the grounds themselves: a lime tree in the field, Father Time on the roof, a hand-worked scoreboard, a ground inside a roundabout, and the venues with the most matches and the biggest crowd.

### Test 1: Trees, vanes, scoreboards and roundabouts

- 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)
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## 4.42 Clubs and Their Ways

The clubs behind the game and their habits: MCC's colours, a wandering club with a motto, Yorkshire's birth rule, a charity founded by actors, the oldest county club and a ground across the road.

### Test 1: Colours, names, rules and founders

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 1839, 1845, 1863 and 1950. (Source: ESPNcricinfo (Sussex); i-zingari.com; Yorkshire CCC; Lord's Taverners)
- 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))
- 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))

## 4.43 Lord's Behind the Gates

Gates, bells, a market garden and a real tennis court: the details of cricket's most famous ground.

### Test 1: Lord's in detail

- The gates were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker, eight years after Grace died. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- It replaced an older pavilion and has stood behind the Long Room ever since. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- MCC bought Henderson's Nursery, a market garden, in 1887 to enlarge the ground. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- MCC members play the game on a court behind the Pavilion. (Source: MCC, real tennis at Lord's (lords.org))
- The bell hangs outside the Pavilion; former players and other guests take turns. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- Archers shot across the outfield, with the Pavilion as a backdrop. (Source: Lord's (lords.org); London 2012 venues)
- 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)
- 1814, 1890, 1923, 1987 and 2012. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- 1787, 1811 and 1814; he took his turf with him each time. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- The architect Michael Hopkins hung white fabric canopies over the old brick base. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)

## 4.44 Grounds with a View

Mountains, forts, rivers and a brass band: Test grounds known for their setting.

### Test 1: Scenic grounds

- At about 1,450 metres it is one of the highest international grounds. (Source: BCCI; Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association)
- The Portuguese began it; the Dutch rebuilt and extended it in the 1600s. (Source: UNESCO, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications)
- Waves swept over the ground; it was rebuilt and Tests returned in 2007. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Galle International Stadium)
- The ground lies near Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's South Island. (Source: New Zealand Cricket, venues)
- The band plays through the day from a stand side of the ground. (Source: Cricket South Africa, venues)
- Mauao, also called Mount Maunganui, rises over the town and the ground. (Source: New Zealand Cricket, venues)
- It staged its first Test in 1989. (Source: Cricket Tasmania, venue history)
- 1889, 1998, 2017 and 2019. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds)
- 1998, 2004 and 2007. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Galle International Stadium)
- Table Mountain and Devil's Peak look down on Newlands. (Source: Cricket South Africa, venues)

## 4.45 Grounds That Moved or Vanished

Grounds lost to football, earthquakes and new stadiums, and grounds that changed their names.

### Test 1: Lost and renamed grounds

- Brisbane's Tests moved to the Gabba from 1931. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Brisbane Exhibition Ground)
- The damage was too great to repair, and the ground was later demolished. (Source: Christchurch City Council; ESPNcricinfo)
- Bourda, opened in the 1880s, staged its last Test in 2005. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Guyana's Test grounds)
- Jaitley had been president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Arun Jaitley Stadium)
- A dog track ran round the oval until the ground was rebuilt. (Source: Brisbane Cricket Ground (thegabba.com.au), history)
- Australia won by 146 runs in December 2018. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Australia v India, Perth 2018)
- The rebuilt ground is the largest cricket stadium in the world. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Narendra Modi Stadium)
- 1928, 1973, 1993, 2011, 2018 and 2019. (Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- 1902, 1928, 1930 and 2018. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds)
- Yorkshire left after the football club built a new stand across the cricket field. (Source: Yorkshire CCC heritage; ESPNcricinfo)

## 4.46 Ground Names and Nicknames

Where the names of grounds and their ends come from.

### Test 1: Names and nicknames

- The suburb's name comes from an Aboriginal word for the area. (Source: Brisbane Cricket Ground (thegabba.com.au))
- The association has run the ground since the 1890s. (Source: WACA (waca.com.au), history)
- Emily and Fanny Eden were sisters of Lord Auckland, Governor-General in the 1830s. (Source: Cricket Association of Bengal, Eden Gardens history)
- He had spoken in support of Pakistan at a conference in Lahore that year. (Source: Pakistan Cricket Board, Gaddafi Stadium)
- He had led the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the state association. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium)
- He was president of the Bombay Cricket Association when the ground was built in 1974. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Wankhede Stadium)
- The stand backs on to the rugby league ground next door. (Source: Yorkshire CCC, Headingley)
- January 1934, February 1934, 1956 and 1959. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds)
- 1877, 1882, 1884, 1931, 1970 and 1989. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds)
- Visiting players often speak of the noise of the crowd there. (Source: Cricket South Africa, venues)

## 4.47 Clubs Around the World

Old clubs far from England: Melbourne, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philadelphia, Trinidad and Toronto.

### Test 1: Clubs abroad

- It was formed only three years after Melbourne itself was settled. (Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au), history)
- The Padang sits in front of the old Supreme Court and City Hall. (Source: Singapore Cricket Club history)
- Merion Golf Club, which has staged the US Open, began as part of the cricket club. (Source: Merion Cricket Club history)
- Queen's Park Cricket Club, founded in 1891, owns and runs it. (Source: Queen's Park Cricket Club history)
- It is the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. (Source: Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club history)
- Lala Amarnath made India's first Test hundred there. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v England, Bombay 1933)
- The club's first ground was taken for railway yards, and the present one opened in 1956. (Source: Wanderers Club history)
- 1838, 1851, 1852, 1875 and 1888. (Source: Club histories)
- 1896, 1930, 1933 and 1984. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test grounds)
- Hong Kong Cricket Club, founded in 1851, moved to Wong Nai Chung Gap. (Source: Hong Kong Cricket Club history)

## 4.48 Village and Country-House Cricket

The National Village Cup, country-house grounds and the clubs of the English countryside.

### Test 1: Village cricket

- It has been played every summer since, apart from 2020. (Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history)
- Troon beat Astwood Bank in the first final in 1972. (Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history)
- Its owner Ben Brocklehurst had the idea. (Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup history)
- The American-born oil heir became a great patron of English cricket. (Source: Wormsley Cricket history)
- England and Australia drew the four-day Test there in August 2013. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, England Women v Australia Women, Wormsley 2013)
- He was also President of MCC in 2002. (Source: Heartaches CC history; Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- Feral goats live on the cliffs around the ground. (Source: Lynton and Lynmouth Cricket Club history)
- 1972, 1992 and 2013. (Source: The Cricketer; Wormsley Cricket)
- Hundreds of villages enter each spring; two reach the final in late summer. (Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup)
- Reaching Lord's is the dream for every village side that enters. (Source: The Cricketer, National Village Cup)

## 4.49 Stands Named After Players

Grounds honour their greats: the stands and ends named after players.

### Test 1: Named stands

- Hollies is best known for bowling Don Bradman for a duck in his last Test innings. (Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston stands)
- Warne, a Victorian, had died that March. (Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au))
- The SCG also has stands named after Bill O'Reilly and Don Bradman. (Source: Sydney Cricket Ground (scgt.nsw.gov.au))
- Both were Barbadians and opened together for West Indies for over a decade. (Source: Barbados Cricket Association, Kensington Oval)
- Ponting grew up in Launceston and played for Tasmania. (Source: Cricket Tasmania, venue history)
- Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell, and their grandfather Vic Richardson, played for South Australia. (Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au))
- Anderson, from Burnley, was still playing when it was named. (Source: Lancashire Cricket, Emirates Old Trafford)
- 1991, 2014, 2017 and 2022. (Source: Ground histories)
- 1899, 1937, 1978 and 1992. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, player profiles)
- In 1947 the pair scored over 7,000 first-class runs between them. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)

## 4.50 Grounds by the Numbers

The biggest, the highest and the most unusual grounds, measured.

### Test 1: Ground superlatives

- It is the largest cricket stadium in the world. (Source: Gujarat Cricket Association; ESPNcricinfo)
- It staged the opening ceremony and athletics; it later hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au))
- The hotel opened in 2016 beside the pavilion. (Source: Lancashire Cricket, Emirates Old Trafford)
- Its iron frame, from the 1870s, is part of the view from the ground. (Source: Historic England, Kennington gasholder listing)
- It replaced the WACA, which held about 20,000, as Perth's Test ground. (Source: Perth Stadium (optusstadium.com.au))
- The thin air helps the ball carry further. (Source: Cricket South Africa, venues)
- The Anglican cathedral stands just across the road from the ground. (Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au))
- About 31,000, 60,000, 66,000, 100,000 and 132,000. (Source: Ground websites; ESPNcricinfo)
- Near sea level, about 1,450 m, 1,750 m and 2,440 m. (Source: Ground and state association websites)
- The Maharaja of Patiala had it built in 1893, at about 2,440 metres. (Source: Himachal Pradesh tourism, Chail cricket ground)

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: Lord's, Kia Oval, Heritage New Zealand, Wellington City Council, the City of Adelaide, Guinness World Records, ESPNcricinfo, the architects AL_A, MCC, I Zingari, Yorkshire CCC, the Lord's Taverners. Lord's slope, the Long Room, the MCG's size and Eden Gardens' crowds are asked in Knowledge Testing and left out on purpose.

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