The Grange Club in Edinburgh, Scotland, tops the list of the smallest cricket stadiums in the world in terms of seating capacity, with room for just 5,000 spectators. Despite its small size, this historic venue has hosted notable cricket legends and international matches over the years.
Although no cricket stadium from India features in the smallest stadiums list, India boasts the world’s largest cricket stadium in terms of seating capacity. If you’re interested, check out our list of international cricket stadiums in India for more information.
Here’s a look at the 10 smallest cricket stadiums globally by seating capacity:
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Seating Capacity
No. | 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 |
The Grange Club, Edinburgh
The Grange Club, established in 1832 in Edinburgh, is one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world. It has hosted iconic cricketers such as W. G. Grace, Donald Bradman, and Brian Lara. The ground also hosted matches during the 1999 Cricket World Cup when Scotland played against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast
Known as the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont Ground in Belfast was established in 1949. Despite its relatively small capacity of 6,000, it has hosted international matches, including Ireland’s first ODI against England in 2006 and the World T20 qualifiers in 2008 and 2015.
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Maple Leaf Cricket Club, Ontario
Located in Ontario, Canada, the Maple Leaf Cricket Club was established in 1954 and is the second cricket ground in Canada to host international matches. It has hosted tournaments such as the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the Global T20 Canada tournament. Its seating capacity is 7,000.
Traeger Park, Alice Springs
This multi-sport stadium in Australia’s Northern Territory holds 7,200 spectators and has hosted domestic cricket, football, and rugby events. Traeger Park has primarily been used for Australian domestic cricket tournaments like the Sheffield Shield.
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Established in 1890, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is renowned for its historic setting, with lush trees providing shade. It has seen the Zimbabwe national team take on top cricketing nations like England, West Indies, and Australia.
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Boundary Length
Besides seating capacity, boundary size is another critical parameter for determining the smallest cricket grounds. According to ICC Test Match Standard Playing Conditions, the minimum boundary length for straight boundaries is 64 meters, and for square boundaries, it is 59.43 meters.
Here are the five smallest cricket stadiums in the world in terms of boundary length:
World’s Smallest Cricket Stadiums by Boundary Length
No. | Stadium Name | Country | Boundary Length |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Eden Park, Auckland | New Zealand | 55 meters |
2 | The Wanderers, Johannesburg | South Africa | 64 meters |
3 | The Lord’s, London | England | 65 meters |
4 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | India | 65 meters |
5 | Holkar Stadium, Indore | India | 68 meters |
Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand’s Eden Park is the smallest cricket stadium by boundary length, with its shortest boundary being only 55 meters. Although it doesn’t meet ICC’s boundary size standards, it continues to host ODIs and T20s. The stadium’s last Test match took place in 2018.
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
With a boundary length of 64 meters square and 65 meters straight, the Wanderers Stadium just meets ICC standards. Since its opening in 1956, the venue has hosted over 100 international matches, including key games for the Highveld Lions.
The Lord’s, London
Often called the “Mecca of Cricket,” Lord’s is one of the oldest and most prestigious cricket venues globally. Its shortest boundary is 65 meters, but its other dimensions are larger, ensuring it remains a significant cricketing ground despite its small square boundary.
These smallest cricket grounds, whether by seating or boundary length, show the diversity of cricketing venues across the world, from historic grounds to modern multi-purpose stadiums.