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A more intimate cricket ground can still provide a great atmosphere for the game and here are some of the smallest stadiums from around the world.
Top 5 Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Boundary
Which is the Smallest International Cricket Stadium by Boundary?
Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, is the smallest ground in regards to dimensions. The shortest part of the ground is the straight boundary which measures just 55 metres.
This helps to make Eden Park a popular choice for limited overs matches and a good percentage of games are played here.
Eden Park, Auckland
We now know that Eden Park in Auckland is the smallest ground in terms of boundary length. Short boundaries generally lead to high scoring and that’s largely been the case here.
The highest team score in T20is on this surface is a mighty 245/5 made by Australia in 2018. The previous record of 243/6 was set in the first innings of the same game by New Zealand.
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa’s Wanderers ground in Johannesburg is next up. It’s a spectacular location but it’s a relatively small one.
At its shortest point, one of the square boundaries measures just 64 metres. The Wanderers was the scene of that incredible ODI in 2006 when both South Africa and Australia passed 400.
Lord’s, London
Lord’s is the home of cricket so it’s strange to think that it’s relatively small in modern day terms.
It’s been around for centuries so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the shortest square boundary comes in at 65 metres. That’s a more suitable size for cricket that was played in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Eden Gardens in Kolkata is another surface that seems huge when you see it on television.
In fact, this is another compact location and the shortest boundary here is a square one which measures in at 65 metres. One of the reasons for the small playing area is that most of the stadium is given over to seating.
Eden Gardens is one of the biggest cricket grounds in terms of its capacity which is 66,000.
Holkar Stadium, Indore
India are one of the most active countries when it comes to spreading their international matches around. The Holkar Stadium at Indore has been used by the national team since 2006 when India played an ODI against England.
Since then, T20is and test matches have also been played here. The straight boundary is one of the shortest in world cricket at 68 metres.
Top 5 Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Capacity
Which is the Smallest International Cricket Stadium by Capacity?
The smallest international stadium in terms of capacity is the Grange Club in Edinburgh. Scotland have played the vast majority of their international games here.
As of 2022, the official seating capacity of this ground is officially confirmed at 5,o00.
The Grange Club, Edinburgh
As we’ve seen, the Grange Club in Edinburgh is the smallest cricket ground by capacity.
Scotland are an emerging nation and have started to produce some impressive performances. If their cricket continues on its upward curve, they may well have to consider redeveloping that stadium or maybe even moving to a new location.
For now, this is the most common ground in the country and it has been since Scotland first played an ODI against Bangladesh at the Grange Club in 1999.
Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast
Ireland have already achieved test status, but they still retain one of the smallest stadiums in world cricket. While a number of their games are played in Dublin, the national team regularly uses the Stormont Cricket Ground, north of the border.
This facility in Belfast currently holds a capacity of 6,000. It has yet to host a test match, but the first international game at Stormont was an ODI between Ireland and England in 2006.
Maple Leaf Cricket Club, Ontario
Canada have appeared in cricket world cups since 1979 but they remain an emerging nation. One of their most intimate facilities is the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in Ontario which can hold up to 7,000 spectators.
Opened in 1954, the ground became the second in Canada to host international cricket and its first game was an ODI against Bermuda in 2008.
Traeger Park, Alice Springs
The schedule for international cricket is much busier than it was a few years ago. Because of that, established cricket countries have had to look at using new stadia.
In Australia’s case, it meant using the facilities at Traeger Park in Alice Springs. First class matches and Big Bash games have been played here since 2015. The current capacity of this ground is 7,200.
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe cricket has had its ups and downs but it still retains a loyal following in its own country. The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is a regular facility for international matches, despite the fact that its capacity is a limited one. For much of its life, the limit on spectators was set at 9,000, but this has recently been increased to 12,497.
Queens Sports Club became Zimbabwe’s third test venue when the national side played the touring Sri Lankans here in October 1994.
Can a Stadium host Major Cricket Matches if it has a Restricted Boundary or Capacity?
Interestingly there are no fixed rules on the dimensions of a cricket ground or its capacity. There are recommendations, but no rules to adhere to.
When looking at capacity for major events such as the World Cup, the ICC looks at questions such as safety and whether the facilities at a ground can reach certain standards.
There’s also the question of maximising revenue. If, for example, India were drawn to play Pakistan in a World Cup group match, there would be no point in hosting that game in a stadium that could only hold 20,000 people. When big games such as these come around, you would want to use the biggest stadium available.
What are the Benefits of a Small Cricket Stadium?
Every stadium has a role to play in the cricketing landscape. While the biggest grounds by capacity and dimensions are used for World Cups and other important tournaments, the smaller venues are ideal for minor games.
I spend a lot of time in the English summer travelling to outgrounds to take in the One Day Cup. While the bigger stadiums are hosting The Hundred, the smaller locations take hosting duties for the One Day Cup, which has become a second team competition.
If you’re a serious cricket fan, you may find that these smaller stadiums are more enjoyable. You are closer to the action and the atmosphere is more intimate. Only real cricket enthusiasts tend to travel to the outgrounds, and it’s a really enjoyable experience.
Conclusion
Being small is no barrier to hosting international cricket. There’s a good mix of grounds here including some that are located within emerging nations and others from established test playing countries.
With more cricket being played around the world than ever before, we may see these lists change in the near future. It’s good to see these stadiums being used and each of them plays an important role in the game today.
