The Best County Ground in England?

[adamberry]

I'm bored, so i would love to hear everyone's views on which first class ground in England is the best. Bear in mind i don't mind what meaning of the word 'best' you take; could be best facilities, most picturesque etc.

Personally, i'm a great fan of New Road (Worcestershire) and St Lawrence (Kent), purely through being picturesque.

[Andy Mellon]

I'm certainly not a big fan of the Rose Bowl. Overpriced and a little bit dull. I also have a problem with it having killed off the opportunity of games at Basingstoke, Bournemouth and Portsmouth - for example.

Being an Essex fan, I should say Chelmsford, but its a bit of a Sixties monstrocity, even though the location by the River Chelmer is fairly nice.

I do like to go and watch cricket at Lords', but it seems a little bit rattley if you watch a county game there with the huge stands lying empty. Canterbury's a lovely little ground, shame that the tree got blown down though!

When first class cricket was still played there, Bournemouth had a lovely ground at Dean Park. Its now the home of Dorset in the Minor Counties league, and is still quite picturesque

Of the others i've been to, I find Old Trafford quite deceptive - it looks huge from the outside, but once you are in, you end up seemingly really close to the action - unlike Lords' where you seem to be very far removed from the cricket.

Hove and Bristol are both ok but I think the most idyllic would be Canterbury, so I'll plump to vote for that one.

[Ernest]

Yes kents Canterbury ground was picturesque with the tree, I don't think they have it any more, but still a nice ground.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Worcester always looked a nice ground from the pics I've seen. Derby is horrible, Queens park in Chesterfield was far better very scenic, with a better pitch too.

[Rachael]

I've never seen it in the flesh.. but I'd have thought the Riverside ground in Durham would be hard to beat (I can't believe I've never been through Durham: it's always been on the "must visit" list without me ever getting around to it).

[Mongoose]

I've joined the band of tree-huggers loving the St Lawrence Ground. If it were a question of test venues, then obviously Kent would be too small. As it's county grounds were evaluating, Kent is a picturesque ground and retains a sense of an earlier age that is part of the charm of cricket. And the good news is, they knew the tree was dying, so they planted an offspring from one of the acorns. It's growing outside the playing area for now, but when it comes of age they'll move it into position.

[cliff gladwin]

Queens Park, Chesterfield was a lovely ground.......... great scenery, usually lots of pace & good for batting too.......... why Derbys decided to throw their lot in at the county ground derby i`ll never know............. A windy, dull,lifeless ground.

I believe Dennis Lillee thought Queens Park to be the loveliest ground in the world....i`ll go with him.

Maybe the days of throwing beer all over David Bairstow & general misbehaviour when the Yorks came to town did for Chesterfield???..... but it`s a crying shame.

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

If it were a question of test venues, then obviously Kent would be too small.

The St Lawrence is going to host an England 'A' match against the Pakistani tourists next summer, just before the first test match.
The ground does feel eeriely empty now that the tree's gone, i doubt the new tree will have quite the same effect on the place.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by adamberry

The ground does feel eeriely empty now that the tree's gone, i doubt the new tree will have quite the same effect on the place.

Give the little nipper a chance to spread it branches a bit. I'm sure in years to come it will cast a satisfying shadow over the square boundary fielders. From small acorns mighty oaks do grow ...

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I've never seen it in the flesh.. but I'd have thought the Riverside ground in Durham would be hard to beat (I can't believe I've never been through Durham: it's always been on the "must visit" list without me ever getting around to it).

It really has to be one of the best settings to play cricket, with the castle nearby, and the fields around it. Plus it's very spacious and benefits from being a bowl-shape, which really adds to the atmosphere and makes you feel closer to the game.

However, I went for Lords, because of the history. I would heartily endorse Chester-le-Street though, and Canterbury looks nice too.