Explore the top 10 smallest cricket stadiums in the world. Plus, learn about the five smallest stadiums based on boundary length.
At the top of the list of the world’s smallest cricket stadiums by seating capacity is Scotland’s Grange Club, located in Edinburgh. Compared to other cricket venues, the Grange Club can accommodate only 5,000 spectators.
Although there is no Indian stadium on this list, India boasts the world’s largest cricket stadium, offering a very different experience from the smaller venues mentioned below. To learn more, you can check out our list of international cricket stadiums in India.
Top 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in the World
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Seating Capacity
Rank | Stadium Name | Country | Seating Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The Grange Club, Edinburgh | Scotland | 5,000 |
2 | Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast | Ireland | 6,000 |
3 | Maple Leaf Cricket Club, Ontario | Canada | 7,000 |
4 | Traeger Park, Alice Springs | Australia | 7,200 |
5 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | Zimbabwe | 9,000 |
6 | Boland Park, Paarl | South Africa | 10,000 |
7 | Riverway Stadium, Townsville | Australia | 10,000 |
8 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | Zimbabwe | 10,000 |
9 | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua | West Indies | 10,000 |
10 | De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley | South Africa | 11,000 |
1. The Grange Club, Edinburgh
The Grange Club was originally founded in 1832 in Edinburgh’s Grange area and later moved to its current site in Stockbridge at Raeburn Place in 1872. It is one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world, and even took on the responsibilities of the Scotland Cricket Union when it dissolved in 1884.
The venue has witnessed many cricket legends over the years, including W. G. Grace in 1895, Donald Bradman in 1948, Brian Lara in 1995, Shane Warne, and Andrew Flintoff. During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by England, Scotland, and Ireland, the Grange Club hosted Scotland’s matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
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2. Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast
The Stormont Cricket Ground was established in 1949 but hosted its first ODI match in June 2006 when Ireland faced England. Also called the Civil Service Cricket Club, it is part of the Stormont Estate and home to the Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club. The Indian cricket team also played a three-match ODI series against South Africa here in 2007.
With a seating capacity of only 6,000, the Stormont Cricket Ground has seen limited matches. However, it did host qualifiers for the World T20 tournaments in 2008 and 2015.
3. Maple Leaf Cricket Club, Ontario
Established in 1954, Ontario’s Maple Leaf Cricket Club features a turf wicket and five cricket grounds, with the North-West ground regularly hosting international matches since 2008.
In 2006, the Maple Leaf Cricket Club became only the second venue in Canada to host international matches. It has since hosted events such as the 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup, the 2008 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series, and matches in the ICC Americas Championship. The stadium, with a seating capacity of 7,000, also hosted the Global T20 Canada tournament.
4. Traeger Park, Alice Springs
Traeger Park in Alice Springs, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is a multi-purpose stadium used for cricket, football, and rugby. The 7,200-seat stadium is mainly used for the Central Australian Football League and has also hosted pre-season matches of Australian Rules Football as well as National Rugby League games. The ground has primarily hosted domestic cricket, such as Sheffield Shield tournaments.
5. Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is one of the oldest cricket grounds globally, established in 1890. It features scenic surroundings, with trees providing shade to spectators. This ground is the second major cricket venue in Zimbabwe, after Harare Sports Club. The Zimbabwe national team has seen notable success here, achieving victories over England, West Indies, Pakistan, and even Australia.
The smallest cricket stadium in India is the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground in Rajkot, which has a seating capacity of 15,000. In England, the smallest cricket stadium is North Marine Road Ground in Scarborough, with a capacity of 11,500.
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Boundary Size
Seating capacity is not the only factor for identifying the smallest cricket grounds—boundary size is also crucial.
According to ICC Test Match Standard Playing Conditions (updated in October 2014), the minimum length for straight boundaries must be 64 meters, while the shorter of the two square boundaries must be at least 59.43 meters. Additionally, the total playing area, from one boundary to the opposite boundary square of the pitch, must measure at least 137.16 meters.
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Boundary Size
Rank | Stadium Name | Country | Boundary Length |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Eden Park, Auckland | New Zealand | 55 meters |
2 | The Wanderers, Johannesburg | South Africa | 64 meters |
3 | Lord’s, London | England | 65 meters |
4 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | India | 65 meters |
5 | Holkar Stadium, Indore | India | 68 meters |
1. Eden Park, Auckland
Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, is known as the smallest cricket ground due to its boundary length of 55 meters. Despite not meeting the ICC’s minimum standards—since the straight boundaries are only 45 meters—Eden Park was granted international status before these rules were established. The ground continues to host ODIs and T20Is, although it last held a Test match in 2018.
2. The Wanderers, Johannesburg
The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, has a straight boundary length of 65 meters and a square boundary length of 64 meters, meeting ICC regulations. Since its opening in 1956, it has hosted 106 international games. The stadium also serves as the home ground for the Highveld Lions, a team that competes in first-class competitions like the CSA 4-Day Series, CSA T20 Challenge, and the Momentum 1 Day Cup.
3. Lord’s, London
Surprisingly, the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London, often referred to as the “Mecca of Cricket,” features a small boundary of 65 meters, which is its shortest side. However, the longer boundaries more than compensate, with the straight boundaries ranging between 85 and 95 meters. The mid-wicket and cover boundaries are also extensive, measuring 91 meters and 88 meters, respectively.
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