Cricket Grounds Of County Cricket: County cricket in England and Wales is the foundation of cricket’s rich history, being the birthplace of cricket and supporting its development through the centuries. The different cricket grounds throughout the counties have seen some historic moments and still host both Test and non-Test matches, playing an important role in the game’s heritage.
Major County Cricket Competitions
County cricket involves several high-profile competitions that highlight the richness of talent and competition within the domestic setup
Vitality County Championship: The top first-class competition, focusing on classic red-ball cricket
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T20 Vitality Blast: A high-octane, high-energy competition involving the shortest version of the game
One Day Cup: A 50-over competition that provides a link between classic and contemporary formats
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: A women’s 50-over competition named after the cricket great
Charlotte Edwards Cup: A women’s T20 competition to drive growth in the women’s game
The Hundred: A 100-ball format to engage a new audience
Iconic Cricket Grounds Of County Cricket
1. The Kia Oval (Kennington, London)
Founded in 1845, The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since 198. It is the venue with the honor of hosting the first Test match on English soil in 1880 between England and Australia. The Oval has a seating capacity of 23,500 and remains a venue for international and domestic matches.
2. Lord’s Cricket Ground (St John’s Wood, London)
It is famously referred to as the “Home of Cricket,” and Lord’s was established in 1814 and is the home venue of Middlesex County Cricket Club. The first Test match at this venue took place in 1884, and the ground has a seating capacity of 28,00. Lord’s is still a symbol of cricketing heritage and hosts several important matches.
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3. Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester)
In Greater Manchester, Old Trafford has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 186. The stadium, with a capacity of 22,000, hosted its first Ashes Test in 1884 and has hosted the most World Cup matches and a semi-final.
4. Headingley Cricket Ground (Leeds)
Located at Headingley, Leeds, this ground is owned by the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The first Test match at this ground was hosted in 1899, and Headingley is famous for Don Bradman’s incredible innings of 334 runs in 1930 and 304 runs in 193.
5. Seat Unique Riverside (Chester-le-Street, Durham)
This ground, opened in 1995, is home to Durham County Cricket Club and has a capacity of around 17,00. It first hosted an international Test match in 2003 between England and Zimbabwe, and is still a host to many cricketing events.
Full List of Test Cricket Grounds Of County Cricket
| Official name (known as) | City or town | Countryside | Capacity | First used | Ends |
| The Brit Oval Cricket Ground (The Oval) | London | Surrey | 23,500 | 6 September 1880 | Pavilion End, Vauxhall End |
| Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Old Trafford) | Manchester | Lancashire | 22,000 | 10 July 1884 | Stretford End, Brian Statham End |
| Lord’s Cricket Ground (Lord’s) | London | Middlesex | 28,000 | 21 July 1884 | Pavilion End, Nursery End |
| Trent Bridge Ground (Trent Bridge) | Nottingham | Nottinghamshire | 17,500 | 1 June 1899 | Pavilion End, Radcliffe Road End |
| County Cricket Ground (Headingley) | Leeds | Yorkshire | 20,000 | 29 June 1899 | Kirkstall Lane End, Rugby Ground End |
| County Cricket Ground (Edgbaston) | Birmingham | Warwickshire | 21,000 | 29 May 1902 | City End, Pavilion End |
| County Ground (Riverside) | Chester-le-Street | Durham | 17,000 | 5 June 2003 | Finchale End, Lumley End |
| SWALEC Stadium (Sophia Gardens) | Cardiff | Glamorgan | 16,000 | 8 July 2009 | River Taff End, Cathedral Road End |
Notable Non-Test Cricket Grounds Of County Cricket
In addition to the Test venues, several grounds host non-Test matches, including the One Day Cup and T20 fixtures:
| Official name (known as) | City or town | Countryside | Capacity | First used | Ends |
| County Cricket Ground (Racecourse Ground) | Derby | Derbyshire | 9,500 | Not specified | Grandstand End, Scoreboard End |
| County Cricket Ground | Chelmsford | Essex | 6,000 | Not specified | River End, Hayes Close End |
| County Cricket Ground (Nevil Road) | Bristol | Gloucestershire | 7,000 (15,000) | Not specified | Pavilion End, Ashley Down Rd End |
| Rose Bowl | Southampton | Hampshire | 9,000 (22,000) | Not specified | Pavilion End, Northern End |
| St Lawrence Ground | Canterbury | Kent | 15,000 | Not specified | Pavilion End, Nackington Road End |
| Grace Road | Leicester | Leicestershire | 12,000 | Not specified | Pavilion End, Bennett End |
| County Cricket Ground | Northampton | Northamptonshire | 6,500 (10,000) | Not specified | Wantage Road End, Abington Avenue End |
| County Ground (Athletic Ground) | Taunton | Somerset | 6,500 | Not specified | River End, Old Pavilion End |
| County Cricket Ground | Hove | Sussex | 4,000 | Not specified | Cromwell Road End, Sea End |
| New Road | Worcester | Worcestershire | 4,500 | Not specified | New Road End, Diglis End |
ALSO READ: First Test Match In Cricket History: Special Rules, Highlights & Historic Moments
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