Newlands Cricket Ground: South Africa's Finest Stadium

In Cape Town, resting in the shadows of Table Mountain and Devil's Peak lies one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world. The ground which feels as if it’s the physical embodiment of an artist's manifestation, the Newlands Cricket Ground is a dream for every player to play cricket at. Just look at the pictures of the ground; paradise is the only word that comes to mind.

Credit: ICC

Let's take a closer look at the sporting gem, The Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, where nature's beauty meets the thrill of the game.

History of the Newlands Cricket Ground:

Though you might not have heard about this ground much, it’s history goes back to more than a century. In 1845, a brewer named Jacob Letterstedt gifted a piece of land to her daughter Lydia Corrina, on her wedding day, and this piece of land would later be known as the Newlands Cricket Ground. In 1887, the Western Province Cricket Club rented the land for £50 and through donations and member contributions built a pavilion. The first official match at this venue was between the local teams Mother Country and Colonial Born. As preparation for the visiting Australia side, the pine trees that circled the pavilion were replaced by majestic oak trees, which now have become a fan favourite about the stadium. Major adjustments were made to the stadium between 1991 and 1997 increasing the capacity to 25,000, establishing Newlands as a major cricket ground in South Africa. Since its reopening for international cricket in 2008, significant other modifications have been made to the ground.

Newlands Cricket Stadium Capacity and Pitch Report and Weather:

Credit: Sportstime247

As talked about earlier, the Newlands Ground has a capacity of about 25000 seating, making it one of the biggest cricket grounds in South Africa. The South African pitches and conditions are known for favouring bowlers. The wind that blows through and the type of pitches, make it a paradise not only for the views, but also for bowlers, providing a good amount of swing and seam movement. Hitting the deck with the leather ball might provide the pacers with a little more bounce and speed. One remarkable thing about the surface is that it is one of those exceptional South African pitches that offers something to spinners as well. Its Mediterranean winter rainfall climate, provide a great weather for playing cricket, making it highly appealing for players and viewers alike.

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Matches played at the Cape Town Stadium:

But not just the beauty, the stadium is famous or some of the best matches played here. The Western Province and MI Cape Town teams have called Newlands their home ground since 1888, and it has also played host to numerous Test games, ODIs, and T20Is.

Newlands Cricket Ground Test Match Records:

Credit: News18

There have been 55 test matches played at this venue, one of the highest for any venue in SA. The historic Ground witnessed its maiden Test match on 24 March 1889, just 5 years after the first ever test match at Lord’s Stadium, where England clashed with South Africa. The England cricket team triumphed, defeating South Africa by an innings and 202 runs. Although the game itself wasn't particularly noteworthy, the venue undoubtedly made an impact.

ODI Match Records:

Credit: Hindustan Times

December 1992 was a historic day for this stadium when the first ever ODI was played here. South Africa took on India in this match and to the fans' jubilation, they defeated India with six wickets to spare. It was a nailbiter, with Hansie Cronje coming up as the man of the match for that day! The venue has hosted 41 One Day Internationals as of June 2019, including five during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which Sachin Tendulkar owned. In its 30 ODI matches played here, South Africa has won 30 and lost 6, with India recording the most recent victory over them in February 2018, in a series when King Kohli was in the form of his life, scoring a century.

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Newlands Cricket Ground T20 and IPL Match Records:

The South African Cricket Ground is home to MI Cape Town in the SA20 competition, and it hosts the Western Province and the Cape Cobras in the domestic tournaments. 

The first T20 International was played here between the Australian cricket team and Zimbabwe, in the 2007 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which Zimbabwe won dramatically. 21 T20Is have been played at the Cape Town Stadium in Total.

Did you know that this stadium also hosted some IPL matches?

Credit: Alamy

With its beautiful backdrop and the passionate fans, Newlands cricket ground has been one of the best cricket grounds where an IPL match has taken place. 

One of the most memorable matches is the one between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009. In a thrilling last ball finish, KKR chased down a target of 174 set RCB. 

Conclusion:

Cape Town's Newlands Cricket Ground is a cricketing treasure with a long history stretching back to the 19th century. It is a cricketer's heaven thanks to its breathtaking location beneath and excellent playing surfaces. The venue which has witnessed everything, from historic Test matches to exhilarating IPL matches will continue to remain one of South Africa's best. It's a paradise for players and spectators alike, combining the wonder of nature with the thrill of the game.

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