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Which ground in your country produces the best cricket ?

Deja moo

International Captain
In India, I can't go past the Chidambaram in Chennai.

Almost all tests they've hosted have been classics:

The 1987 tied test Ind vs Aus

The India vs Aus tests 98 ( see sawing match), 2001 ( the third and final test of that superb series) and 2004 (a classic thwarted only by rain on the final day )

The Ind vs pak test 99, Sachins 136, Pakistan winning by just 12 runs.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Well, traditionally the MCG and the Gabba, for me. They both normally offer a bit for bowlers without being impossible to bat on, and the MCG of course is a wonderful venue to watch cricket, and Boxing Day in Australia is always a great event for the cricket. Both grounds have had many great matches as well. I've probably seen more great test matches at the SCG than anywhere else in my time, though.

These days of course, pitches are so poor in Australia it's hard to say. I suppose the SCG is still usually pretty decent, and the WACA.

The great thing about Australian grounds usually is the variation, where you have a green top in Brisbane, a batting wicket in Adelaide, a turner in Sydney, a fast bowler's paradise in Perth and so on. In recent years, it's just one flat pitch after another.
 

James90

Cricketer Of The Year
The SCG produces good contests occasionally due to the dead rubber syndrome. The ODI's played at Colonial are always great though and usually produce a close finish.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
James90 said:
The SCG produces good contests occasionally due to the dead rubber syndrome. The ODI's played at Colonial are always great though and usually produce a close finish.
Colonial? Bleh, I hate that place as a cricket venue. The ultimate in commercialised faux-cricket, a drop-in pitch grown elsewhere on a football ground with a roof over it. The pitch is always a shocking road, too.

Maybe in future years it will be known as "the home of 20/20". :p
 

Mister Wright

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I've only ever been to the 'Gabba and I don't know why, but the Pura Cup games there are often more interesting and exciting then the test matches. Traditionally the 'Gabba is a green top, and it is that case for most Pura Cup games, but when it comes to the tests it is pretty much just covered with bitumen.

I'd love to go to a test at the Adelaide Oval.
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
In India, I don't think u can look past Chennai. I am too lazy to mention why here, but if anyone can dig up that "Most memorable cricketing moment when u were at the ground" thread, you will know what I am talking about.
 

luckyeddie

Cricket Web Staff Member
Naturally, I think the best cricket is played at the County Ground, Derby (aka The Racecourse).

Cricket is a game which is supposed to be played in mid-April on a barren, wide-open expanse of land with nothing to stop the sleet all the way down from the Arctic Circle. The Derby County Ground is the official home of the world's 1782146th most deadly disease, "Slippers morbid blue fingeritis".

Everywhere else, the game is played by a bunch of fairies on manicured lawns which doesn't actually count as 'cricket' - more 'applied hairdressing'.

Derbyshire (home of the ICF world champions) - where the men are men and the sheep are nervous.
 
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Chubb

International Regular
I know Taunton has a reputation for high-score draws but every time I have been there something special has happened. I don't go to Taunton very often despite living 1/2 and hour away, because I support Essex, there are no direct train links to Taunton from where I am and most of the time I can't get a lift. I see most of my cricket in Essex, I used to go to Chelmsford, Southend and Colchester a lot with my grandfather whilst I was up there.

But I have never seen such close games as i have at Taunton, filled with moments of brilliance. This has what's happened the last three times I've been. the only other time was to see NZ in 1999;

June 2003: Zimbabwe beat Somerset by three runs- Carlisle hundred, Matsikenyeri 66 filled with blows out of the ground, Streak bowling, a Bowler hundred and a last over finish.

April 2005: Andre Adams takes a hatrick in the third session of the third day of the CC match.

May 2005: brilliiant Blackwell ton, 131* with massive sixes, and a really close finish, although I had to get away early for my lift! :@
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
hmmm this is an interessting one, i think it may be lord's, they have had some pretty good test & ODI's played their in the last 6 years or so.
 

Pedro Delgado

International Debutant
luckyeddie said:
Naturally, I think the best cricket is played at the County Ground, Derby (aka The Racecourse).

Cricket is a game which is supposed to be played in mid-April on a barren, wide-open expanse of land with nothing to stop the sleet all the way down from the Arctic Circle. The Derby County Ground is the official home of the world's 1782146th most deadly disease, "Slippers morbid blue fingeritis".

Everywhere else, the game is played by a bunch of fairies on manicured lawns which doesn't actually count as 'cricket' - more 'applied hairdressing'.

Derbyshire (home of the ICF world champions) - where the men are men and the sheep are nervous.
Quite. (Brrrrrr, Baaaaah).
 

Craig

World Traveller
Is it true from what I once heard about Manchester that if it isn't raining there, then it is fine all over the country?

For me it is the 'Gabba, you get a great view no matter where you sit, and if you sit down below I feel that I'm close to the action. Personal prefrence over the MCG.
 

Gloucefan

U19 Vice-Captain
Not the county ground in Bristol this season that's for sure, we don't put up enough of a fight for any epics.

Saying that the Twenty20 was good on Friday and also the England match last week was great (from the TV anyway).
 

badgerhair

U19 Vice-Captain
luckyeddie said:
Naturally, I think the best cricket is played at the County Ground, Derby (aka The Racecourse).

Cricket is a game which is supposed to be played in mid-April on a barren, wide-open expanse of land with nothing to stop the sleet all the way down from the Arctic Circle. The Derby County Ground is the official home of the world's 1782146th most deadly disease, "Slippers morbid blue fingeritis".

Everywhere else, the game is played by a bunch of fairies on manicured lawns which doesn't actually count as 'cricket' - more 'applied hairdressing'.
I reckon as how you'd get some argument from some people slightly north of you. You get all that nonsense at places like Jesmond and Chester-le-Street these days too.

But although it was the scene of Richard Johnson's 10-fer, I'm not really convinced. Neither was my old mate the late Alan Revill. (He didn't much like playing for Derbyshire as it goes, but in those days you didn't get a whole lot of choice in the matter.)

I'd say the English ground which has most consistently provided great cricket and exciting matches has been Headingley. Especially in Tests, it's not usually easy to bat on, so when you see a big innings there it's usually a memorable and highly meritorious one.

But then I like cricket on slightly substandard pitches.

The best grounds for good wicket cricket are The Oval and Grace Road, I think. Both of those usually offer some bounce, whereas Lord's is usually either a flattie or a pudding. An exceptionally well-presented pudding, to be sure, but a pudding nonetheless.

Cheers,

Mike
 

luckyeddie

Cricket Web Staff Member
One of my favourite venues for watching cricket many years ago was the quite wonderfully picturesque Queens Park, Chesterfield, with its back-drop of poplar trees just to make things REALLY difficult for batsmen.

My favourite test match venue has always been Trent Bridge - probably because the first test match I watched was there, and centuries by Pollock and Cowdrey ensured that my love-affair with cricket would inevitably last a lifetime. One of the great things about being in and around Trent Bridge in the 1960's and 1970's were the number of people there who remembered Larwood, Voce, the Gunns - and they were always eager to impress with a tale or two - oh yes, and the chance to watch King Gary..
 

AndrewM

U19 12th Man
Eden Park has had its fair share of crackers, but one of the most beautiful spectator grounds to watch cricket would have to be the Basin Reserve.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Chubb said:
I know Taunton has a reputation for high-score draws but every time I have been there something special has happened. I don't go to Taunton very often despite living 1/2 and hour away, because I support Essex, there are no direct train links to Taunton from where I am and most of the time I can't get a lift. I see most of my cricket in Essex, I used to go to Chelmsford, Southend and Colchester a lot with my grandfather whilst I was up there.

But I have never seen such close games as i have at Taunton, filled with moments of brilliance. This has what's happened the last three times I've been. the only other time was to see NZ in 1999;

June 2003: Zimbabwe beat Somerset by three runs- Carlisle hundred, Matsikenyeri 66 filled with blows out of the ground, Streak bowling, a Bowler hundred and a last over finish.

April 2005: Andre Adams takes a hatrick in the third session of the third day of the CC match.

May 2005: brilliiant Blackwell ton, 131* with massive sixes, and a really close finish, although I had to get away early for my lift! :@
Taunton has a reputation for those of shrewd judgement of championing rubbish batsmen (Ian Blackwell being one of the best examples - check-out his average at Taunton compared to elsewhere).
It's a disgrace, bowlers haven't got a chance of bowling economically really.
 

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