Cricket stadiums house the passionate fans who throng the venue to watch a game of cricket. Several international cricket stadiums in the world are on the bucket list of the fans. From the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground to the gigantic Melbourne Cricket Ground, to the newly-constructed Narendra Modi Stadium, which has the highest seating capacity among cricket stadiums in the world – these venues have served as the place where legends were made and memorable moments were created. Each venue has its own story and history. They are not just structures; they are integral to the whole experience of the players and spectators.
Imagine everything that comes to mind in our favorite movies - cast, screenplay, music, and story take prominence for most. The other technical aspects like staging and art direction are usually glossed over like an afterthought until those go awry to ruin the overall product. Similarly in cricket, while the batters, bowlers, umpires, and commentators play the protagonist role, the 'staging' often takes a backseat in general discussions. However, the real spectacle of the sport stems from the stadiums hosting the matches with attributes like their history, tradition, atmosphere, and aesthetics adding a key dimension to the fans' overall viewing.
Ranking the best cricket stadium around the world is one that is highly subjective, considering the fact it relies heavily on the eye of the beholder. Yet, with attributes like the ones mentioned above, we have come up with a top 10 for cricket stadiums worldwide. Before we jump into the elite list, here are a few worthy honorable mentions:
Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka
National Stadium, Karachi
Kennington Oval, London
Optus Stadium, Perth
Queenstown, New Zealand
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Basin Reserve, Wellington,
Queens Park Oval, Trinidad
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Adelaide Oval, Australia
Kensington Oval, Barbados
Established as early as 1871, the Kensington Oval in Barbados is undeniably the best cricket stadium in the Caribbean. With a capacity of around 28,000, the ground has hosted several iconic matches like the 2010 and 2024 T20 World Cup finals and the 2007 ODI World Cup final. Often referred to as the 'Mecca' in the West Indies, the stadium provides fans with a serene and relaxed viewing experience. The first-ever international game played at the Kensington Oval was a West Indies-England Test match in 1930.
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand grounds are often renowned for their scenic beauty and the Eden Park in Auckland perfectly fits that bill. With a seating capacity of around 42,000, it is the largest stadium in the country. The first-ever game at the venue was an England-New Zealand Test in 1930. The stadium hosted one of the greatest matches when New Zealand pulled off a thrilling last-over win over South Africa in the 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final. Eden Park also hosts Football and Rugby Union games, leading to its unique features and the arena played host to India legend Sachin Tendulkar's first-ever opening stint in ODIs in 1994.
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Australia
The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) comes in at No.8, thanks to its rich history and incredible setting, especially in night matches. Established in 1851, the SCG has a seating capacity of 48,000 and first hosted a game - an Ashes Test - featuring Australia and England in 1882. A spectacle in night matches, the SCG also has some of the longest boundaries in world cricket, paving the way for a fair contest between bat and ball. The venue has hosted several key ICC games, including the India-Australia 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final. The pitch is arguably the most spin-friendly in Australia and is second all-time in the most matches played with 291 international games.
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg - referred to as the 'Bullring' due to its intimidation factor for visiting teams, is one of the iconic grounds in the world. With a capacity of 34,000, the Bullring offers an excellent viewing experience for the spectators, thanks to the seating on the grassbanks. The pitch at the Wanderers is unique for its ability to produce high-scoring white-ball games due to the shorter boundaries but changing course and being a terror for batters in Tests with its exaggerated seam movement and bounce. The stadium replaced the Old Wanderers Stadium in 1956 with the first-ever match played between South Africa and England in the same year. It also witnessed perhaps the greatest-ever ODI game when South Africa chased down 435 against Australia in the series decider.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India
It is hard to beat the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai when it comes to the crowd atmosphere in full tilt. With a seating capacity in the mid-30,000s, a packed Wankhede Stadium is one of the best sights in world cricket. The venue hosted arguably India's most memorable victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka. Hosting a match for the first time in 1975 in a Test match between India and the West Indies, the venue recently witnessed India defeating New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final to advance to the grand finale.
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town has to rank among the top two prettiest settings in the world. With the 'Table Mountain' in the backdrop, the venue offers the viewers aesthetics like very few. Established in the late 19th century, Newlands holds a capacity of 25,000 and is a fortress for South Africa in Tests. The venue hosted its first-ever international match in 1889 - a Test between South Africa and England.
HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, India
If only ranked in terms of picturesque setting, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala will be right on top. The venue is Situated at 4780 feet above sea level and holds a seating capacity of just over 21,000. With the pleasantly cool conditions and the sparkling view of the Dhauladhar Mountain peaks in the backdrop, the venue is a favorite among fans and even Indian and opposition players. Established in 2003, the HPCA Stadium hosted its first-ever international game in 2013 - an India-England ODI.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
A packed Eden Gardens in Kolkata provides an atmosphere like no other in cricket, with the deafening noise levels proving to be India's ally in several tricky encounters. The largest stadium in the country for decades until the recent introduction of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Eden Gardens has a seating capacity of around 68,000. The venue had a record attendance of 110,564 spectators during the infamous 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka. Eden Gardens has hosted international matches for over nine decades with the first-ever game at the venue being played in 1934. Some of India's best-ever moments have come at the Eden Gardens, including VVS Laxman's memorable 281 that helped India come back from following on to defeat Australia in 2001.
Lord's Cricket Ground, London, England
When it comes to history and tradition, Lord's in London, also called the 'Home of Cricket', has to be the first name on anyone's list. The venue has hosted the fifth most number of international matches with 226 games. Established in 1814, Lord's saw its first-ever international match played in 1884 between England and Australia. As the oldest stadium in the world, doing well and getting on the Lord's Honors Board for scoring a century and picking up a five-wicket haul remains a goal for every cricketer. Who will ever forget the Super Over finish in the 2019 ODI World Cup final that saw England triumph on a beautiful evening at Lord's? It is also the stadium to have hosted the most Test matches at 147 and one of only four to have hosted 100 Test matches, boasting a seating capacity of just over 31,000.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia
History, tradition, spectacle, iconic - name all the ingredients required for a top stadium, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia has an abundance of them. Referred to as the 'G' locally, the venue is famous for the traditional Boxing Day Test that starts on December 26 every year. With a seating capacity of close to 100,000, the MCG saw a record attendance of over 93,000 for the 2015 ODI World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand. Apart from being the largest stadium in Australia, it is also among the top 15 largest sporting venues worldwide. The stadium is famous for hosting the first-ever Test match in 1877 and the first-ever ODI in 1971. With the tallest light towers in the world, the MCG is a sight not to be missed at night.
