Cricket World Cup 2015: Definitive Guide to the Venues
With the 2015 Cricket World Cup a matter of days away, attention is starting to turn to the venues where the games will be hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
The tournament will be played at 14 grounds across the two countries, seven from each, all culminating with the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29.
Let’s take a look ahead at where the games will be played and a little of their history.
Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney, Australia)
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With a capacity of 48,000, the Sydney Cricket Ground is one of the biggest venues available at this World Cup.
It will host games in both Pool A and Pool B, before then hosting the first quarter-final and the second semi-final as the tournament reaches its latter stages.
The SCG is one of the most historic grounds in the entire game, and it will be a superb venue for this year’s World Cup.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
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The oldest ground in the tournament, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, will also host pool games and a quarter-final before then hosting the final on March 29.
Its total capacity of close to 100,000—including standing room—are sure to be rocking for those games; especially the showpiece climax.
Hosting the first ever Test in 1877, there is plenty of history at the MCG, and this tournament will surely add to that.
Adelaide Oval (Adelaide, Australia)
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Another ground to have played host to its fair share of big games over the years is the Adelaide Oval, which will be the venue of a pool game and the third quarter-final this year.
With its capacity of 32,000, it combines size with beauty all around and first played host to an international fixture in 1884.
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The Gabba (Brisbane, Australia)
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Famed for its extra bounce, the Gabba in Brisbane has just three pool games in this year’s World Cup, something of a disappointment given its excellent facilities.
The home of the tied Test between Australia and the West Indies in 1960, perhaps those pool fixtures will allow some more history to be made at the ground with a capacity of approximately 40,000.
The WACA (Perth, Australia)
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In Perth, the WACA will also play host to three pool matches only, including Australia’s game with Afghanistan on March 4.
India will also play there twice, in what is one of Australia’s newer international venues having made its debut in 1970.
Bellerive Oval (Hobart, Australia)
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One of the smaller grounds in this tournament is found in the state of Tasmania, where the Bellerive Oval sits in the city of Hobart.
An international venue since the late 1980s, this will have a more intimate feel with a capacity of just 16,200, and it is known for being favourable to batsmen as the day goes on.
Manuka Oval (Canberra, Australia)
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Australia’s capital city of Canberra gets to play host to three pool games, as the World Cup rolls into the Manuka Oval in late February and early March.
Traditionally the home of the game between the Prime Minister's XI and an overseas touring side, the ground seats 13,000 and has only ever hosted one-day internationals.
Eden Park (Auckland, New Zealand)
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Over in New Zealand, Eden Park in Auckland will play host to three pool matches—including the match between the Black Caps and Australia—and the first semi-final.
With a capacity of 50,000, it is a pitch that favours the slower bowlers and has something of an odd shape, more like a baseball diamond than a traditional oval.
Hagley Oval (Christchurch, New Zealand)
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Relatively new to international cricket is the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which only became an international ground early last year.
It will host three pool matches, including New Zealand’s tussle with Sri Lanka—by coincidence the only Test it has hosted so far was between those two countries.
Seddon Park (Hamilton, New Zealand)
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A host of international cricket since 1991, Seddon Park in Hamilton has a capacity of about 10,000 and has plenty of open green space rather than stands for spectators.
It will host three pool games, having recently hosted an ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
McLean Park (Napier, New Zealand)
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The home of Central Districts in New Zealand’s domestic competitions, McLean Park in Napier will welcome three pool games.
It first hosted international cricket in 1979, and it will play host to the Black Caps’ game with Afghanistan on March 8.
Westpac Stadium (Wellington, New Zealand)
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Rebuilt in 1999, the Westpac Stadium in Wellington seats 33,500, and it has also been a venue for rugby since 1903.
It will host three pool games and the fourth quarter-final on March 21.
Saxton Oval (Nelson, New Zealand)
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Another relatively new arena for international cricket, Nelson’s Saxton Oval joined the party early last year and will host three pool games.
With low stands all the way around, it is sure to have an intimate atmosphere.
University Oval (Dunedin, New Zealand)
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Otago’s home of the University Oval in Dunedin will play host to three pool games, having originally been built in the early part of the 20th century.
It came in for some criticism in the past for the handling of rainwater there, but those problems would appear to have been dealt with.
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