Old Trafford Cricket Ground

This article is about the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club. For the football stadium, see Old Trafford. For other uses, see Old Trafford (disambiguation).
Emirates Old Trafford

Emirates Old Trafford - August 2014
Ground information
Location Old Trafford, Greater Manchester
England
Establishment 1857
Capacity Cricket
Domestic:19,000
International: 26,000[1]
Concerts: 65,000
Tenants Lancashire County Cricket Club
England cricket team
End names
Stretford End
Brian Statham End
International information
First Test 10–12 July 1884:
 England v  Australia
Last Test 22–25 July 2016:
 England v  Pakistan
First ODI 24 August 1972:
 England v  Australia
Last ODI 13 September 2015:
 England v  Australia
First T20I 13 June 2008:
 England v  New Zealand
Last T20I 07 September 2016:
 England v  Pakistan
Team information
Manchester Cricket Club (1857 – 1865)
Lancashire (1865 – present)
As of 25 July 2016
Source: ESPNcricinfo

Old Trafford, known for sponsorship reasons as Emirates Old Trafford,[2] is a cricket ground in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. It opened in 1857 as the home of Manchester Cricket Club and has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.

Old Trafford is England's second oldest test venue and one of the most renowned.[3][4] It was the venue for the first ever Ashes test to be held in England in July 1884 and has hosted two Cricket World Cup semi-finals. In 1956, the first 10-wicket haul in a single innings was achieved by England bowler Jim Laker who achieved bowling figures of 19 wickets for 90 runs - a bowling record which is unmatched in test and first-class cricket. In the 1993 Ashes Test at Old Trafford, leg-spinner Shane Warne bowled Mike Gatting with the Ball of the Century.

Extensive redevelopment of the ground to increase capacity and modernise facilities began in 2009 in an effort to safeguard international cricket at the venue. The pitch at Old Trafford has historically been the quickest in England, but will take spin later in the game.[5]

History

Early history

The site was first used as a cricket ground in 1857, when the Manchester Cricket Club moved onto the meadows of the de Trafford estate.[6] Despite the construction of a large pavilion (for the amateurs – the professionals used a shed at the opposite end of the ground), Old Trafford's first years were rocky: accessible only along a footpath from the railway station, the ground was situated out in the country, and games only attracted small crowds. It was not until the Roses match of 1875 that significant numbers attended a game. When W. G. Grace brought Gloucestershire in 1878, Old Trafford saw 28,000 spectators over three days, and this provoked improvements to access and facilities.[7]

In 1884, Old Trafford became the second English ground, after The Oval, to stage Test cricket: with the first day being lost to rain, England drew with Australia.[8] Expansion of the ground followed over the next decade, with the decision being taken to construct a new pavilion in 1894.[9]

The ground was purchased outright from the de Traffords in 1898, for £24,372, as crowds increased, with over 50,000 spectators attending the 1899 Test match.[9]

In 1902, the Australian Victor Trumper hit a hundred before lunch on the first day;[10] Australia went on to win the Test by 3 runs – the third closest Test result in history.[11][12]

Crowds fell through the early 20th Century, and the ground was closed during the First World War; however, in the conflict's aftermath, crowd numbers reached new heights. Investment followed throughout the inter-war period, and during this time, Lancashire experienced their most successful run to date, gaining four Championship titles in five years.[13]

During the Second World War, Old Trafford was used as a transit camp for troops returning from Dunkirk, and as a supply depot. In December 1940, the ground was hit by bombs, damaging or destroying several stands. Despite this damage – and the failure of an appeal to raise funds for repairs – cricket resumed promptly after the war, with German PoWs being paid a small wage to prepare the ground. The 'Victory Test' between England and Australia of August 1945 proved to be extremely popular, with 76,463 seeing it over three days.[13]

Post World War II

Differences of opinion between the club's committee and players led to a bad run of form in the 1950s and early 1960s; this consequently saw gate money drop, and a lack of investment.[14] After 1964, however, the situation was reversed, and 1969 saw the first Indoor Cricket Centre opened.[15] In 1956 Jim Laker became the first person to take all 10 wickets in a Test match innings, achieving figures of 10 for 53 in the fourth Test against Australia (the only other bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings is Anil Kumble of India in 1999). Having also taken 9 for 37 in the first innings, Laker ended the match with record figures of 19 for 90, which remain unmatched to this day.[16][17] On 1 May 1963 the first ever one day cricket match took place at Old Trafford, as the Gillette Cup was launched. Lancashire beat Leicestershire in a preliminary knock-out game, as 16th and 17th finishers in the Championship the previous year, to decide who would fill the 16th spot in the one-day competition.[18] Following Lancashire's reign as One Day champions in the 1970s, a programme of renovation and replacement was initiated in 1981.[15] This changed the face of the ground to the extent that, now, only the Pavilion “is recognisable to a visitor who last watched or played a game in, say, the early 1980s”.[19] In 1981 Ian Botham hit 118, including six sixes (the second greatest number in an Ashes innings), which he has called "one of the three innings I would like to tell my grandchildren about".[20][21] England went on to win the Ashes after being lampooned in the national media for such poor performances.

In 1990 Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test hundred at the age of 17 – becoming the second youngest centurion – to help India draw[22] In 1993 Shane Warne bowled the "Ball of the Century" to Mike Gatting at the ground.[23] In the same game, Graham Gooch was out handled the ball for 133 – only the sixth out of nine times this has ever happened.[24] and in 1995 - Dominic Cork took a hat trick for England vs West Indies. In 2000 both Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart played their hundredth Tests, against the West Indies.[25] In the third Test of the 2005 Ashes series the match ended in a nailbiting draw, with 10,000 fans shut out of the ground on the final day as tickets were sold out. England went on to win the series regaining the Ashes for the first time in over 20 years.[26]

The ground

The Pavilion in 2013, shortly before it reopened

The cricket ground is near the Old Trafford football stadium (a five-minute walk away down Warwick Road and Sir Matt Busby Way), in the borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, approximately two miles south west of Manchester city centre. Its capacity is 22,000 for Test matches, for which temporary stands are erected, and 15,000 for other matches. Since 1884, it has hosted 74 Tests,[27] the third highest number in England, behind Lord's and The Oval.[28]

The two ends of the ground are the Pavilion End to the north and the Brian Statham End to the south, renamed in honour of the former Lancashire and England player. A section of Warwick Road to the east is also called Brian Statham Way. Immediately abutting the ground to the south-east is the Old Trafford tram stop.

Old Trafford has a reputation for unpredictable weather. Old Trafford is the only ground in England where a Test match has been abandoned without a ball being bowled – and this has happened here twice in 1890 and 1938, though before 5 day test matches were introduced.[29] Before Cardiff hosted its first Test match in July 2009, Old Trafford was reputedly the wettest Test ground in the country;[30] Manchester is situated to the west of the Pennines and faces prevailing winds and weather fronts from the Atlantic.

These prevailing conditions have encouraged Lancashire to keep the ground as well-drained as possible, most recently through the acquisition of a Hover Cover in 2007,[31][32] and the installation of new drains towards the end of the 2008 season.[33]

In the second Test of 1938 in a desperate effort to ensure play after heavy rain the groundstaff moved the turf from the practice pitch to the square – a unique attempt.[20]In 2010–11 the wickets were relaid, changing their extremely unusual East-West axis to a more conventional North-South layout. The Brian Statham End to the East, and Stretford End to the West, were replaced by the Pavilion End to the North, and the Brian Statham End to the South.[34]

The Pavilion

The three-tiered Victorian members' pavilion was built in 1895 for £10,000.[9] Hit by a bomb in 1940 – which destroyed the Members' Dining Room and groundsman's quarters – most of the pavilion was rebuilt.[13] £1 million was spent on a new roof after it began to leak in 2003.[19] It is currently undergoing renovation, due to be completed in 2013, when it is envisaged that the players will be housed in the new 'Media and Players' stand, leaving the pavilion solely for the use of members.

The Pavilion's position was noteworthy in that, until 2010, it sat parallel to the wickets, rather than behind them, presenting the members with one of the worst viewing angles possible. It contains batting and bowling Honours Boards, unveiled during the 2004 Test match.[35] The pavilion underwent redevelopment at the start of 2012 and was reopened for the YB40 game against Scotland.

The Point

The Point, almost completed, June 2010

'The Point', Old Trafford's distinctive £12 million conference centre, and at 1000 seats one of the largest multi-purpose conference facilities in North West England,[36] opened in 2010.[37]

The Media and Players Centre which opened in September 2012.

Media and Players Centre

Old Trafford was unusual in that there were two media stands at opposite ends of the ground prior to the new Media Centre which opened in September 2012. Television and radio commentators previously operated in temporary television studios and commentary boxes at the Stretford End which were perched on hospitality boxes.

Cricket practice school

The idea of an indoor school was born in 1951, when nets were strung up in the Members' Dining Room in the pavilion.[13] A permanent facility was built in 1969, and replaced in 1997.[15] The current building stands to the north-west of the pitch; it contains five 60 metre lanes on various surfaces, several conference rooms, and a large shop.[38]

The Old Trafford Lodge

The Lodge

The Old Trafford Lodge opened in 1999, bringing to fruition a concept from 1981.[15] The hotel has 68 rooms, 36 having unobstructed views of the playing surface.[39][40] It has been demolished as part of the redevelopment of the ground[41]

Redevelopment 2003–2017

Following rejection of plans, in 2003, to sell Old Trafford, and move the club to a new purpose-built stadium in East Manchester,[19] the focus was switched to upgrading the current ground. Lancashire CCC, with a coalition of businesses, are in the process of making the cricket ground the centre of an anticipated 750,000 sq ft (70,000 m2) development, in a mixed-use scheme involving business, residential, retail, hotel and leisure facilities.[42]

The north-western corner of the ground before construction of The Point, August 2008

The first phase of redevelopment saw the laying of new drains in Autumn 2008. In 2009, the Stretford end of the ground was closed to facilitate destruction of the County Suite, Tyldesley Suite, 'K' and 'L' Stands and the scoreboard;[33] The Point, overshadowing new seating to the west of the pavilion, opened in June 2010.[37] During the 2010/11 winter the wickets were turned from their previous east–west axis to a more typical north–south alignment,[43] which prevents the low evening sun from interfering with matches, and increased the number of available wickets by five, to sixteen. Many of Lancashire's home games for the 2011 season were transferred to out grounds while the new wickets 'bedded in'.

The main planning process began in September 2008,[44] but faced stiff legal opposition. Since Tesco pledged £21 million to the redevelopment, the stadium's planning application included a request for a new supermarket nearby. Trafford Council gave this joint proposal permission in March 2010[45] – a decision which was initially called in by the Communities Secretary for Judicial Review, before the go-ahead was given in September 2010.[46] Derwent Holdings, a property development company denied permission to build a supermarket at the nearby White City retail park, then called for a Judicial Review. Although this was turned down by the High Court in March 2011, the case went to the Court of Appeal.[47][48] Lancashire took the risky decision to begin work ahead of the matter being resolved, in order to qualify for grants from the North West Development Agency before it was wound up.[49] However, the Court of Appeal ruled in Lancashire's favour in July 2011, and denied leave to further appeal.[47][50]

Work therefore began on this main phase in summer 2011, beginning with the installation of permanent floodlights and a new video screen.[51][52] A new 'Players and Media' facility, mimicking to some degree the design of The Point, has been built on the site of the demolished Washbrook-Statham stand, with a 2-tiered cantilever stand being erected on either side. The Pavilion has been renovated to have its sloped roof replaced with two modern glass storeys, finished in April 2013.

The media facilities and corporate boxes on the western side of the ground have been demolished, leaving an empty space, which will be used for temporary seating or a stage when required.[44][53]

The Old Trafford Lodge opened in 1999, however it will be demolished and construction will begin on the Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford. It will be a Hilton Garden Inn 150 bedroom hotel for Hilton Worldwide. It is expected to be completed by March 2017.[41]

Uses

Cricket

The ground is used heavily throughout the summer as the base of Lancashire County Cricket Club, with other home games being played at Stanley Park, Blackpool, Birkdale in Southport and at Aigburth in Liverpool. Until 2008, Old Trafford commonly hosted a Test match each year; none were hosted in 2009, 2011 or 2012 due to sub-standard facilities,[54][55] although following redevelopment, Old Trafford will host an Ashes Test in 2013, and further Tests in 2014 and 2016.[56] One Day Internationals and/or International Twenty20s continue to be hosted every year.[56]

Musical venue

The ground is occasionally used as a venue for large-scale concerts, with a maximum capacity of 50,000. Although the old stage location, in front of the Indoor Cricket School, has been built on, buildings on the western side of the ground will be cleared by 2013 to again allow space for a stage. The concert capacity will increase to 65,000 after redevelopment.

Date Event Headline Act(s) Supporting Act(s)
July 2002 Move Festival David Bowie, New Order, Green Day N/A
September 2002 Heathen Chemistry Tour Oasis Richard Ashcroft
May 2003 The Rising Tour Bruce Springsteen N/A
July 2003 Move Festival R.E.M. John Squire, Badly Drawn Boy, Idlewild
July 2004 Move Festival Madness, The Cure, Morrissey Pixies, The Stranglers, Jimmy Cliff, Goldfrapp, Tim Booth, New York Dolls
June 2006 N/A Richard Ashcroft Razorlight, The Feeling
June 2006 In Your Honor Tour Foo Fighters The Strokes, Angels & Airwaves, The Subways, Eagles of Death Metal
July 2007 'Mini-festival'[57] Arctic Monkeys Supergrass, The Coral, The Parrots, Amy Winehouse
May 2008 Magic Tour Bruce Springsteen N/A
June 2008 In Rainbows Tour Radiohead Bat For Lashes, MGMT[58]
August 2008 Accelerate Tour R.E.M. N/A
June 2009 Take That Presents: The Circus Live Take That The Script, Lady Gaga
September 2009 Viva la Vida Tour Coldplay Jay-Z
June 2010 21st Century Breakdown World Tour Green Day Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Frank Turner
September 2010 The Resistance Tour Muse Editors, Band of Skulls, Pulled Apart by Horses
June 2011 Bon Jovi Live Bon Jovi Vintage Trouble, Xander and the Peace Pirates
June 2011 Come Around Sundown World Tour Kings of Leon White Lies, Mona
May 2015 Sonic Highways World Tour Foo Fighters Teenage Fanclub, God Damn
June 2016 Anti World Tour Rihanna Big Sean
July 2016 The Formation World Tour Beyoncé DJ Magnum
(Upcoming) May 2017 N/A The Courteeners The Charlatans, Blossoms, Cabbage

Other

The Old Trafford Lodge, The Point, and other corporate facilities are open all year round, as are the ground's car parks, situated to the north and west of the ground.[59]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Gunning for greatness: Cook knows that clinching Ashes now will prove England's class". 31 July 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013. It would be stretching a point to say that this famous old ground now looks easy on the eye after the rebuilding work that has lifted the capacity to 26,000
  2. ↑ "Old Trafford: Lancashire ground renamed in Emirates deal". BBC News. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Old Trafford". Cricinfo. March 2005. Retrieved 2013-07-28. Old Trafford has hosted Tests since 1884 and remains a special venue with a rich history. It guaranteed itself a place in cricket's eternal hall of fame when the permanently understated Jim Laker destroyed Australia, in 1956, on an old-fashioned "sticky wicket", with match figures of 19 for 90.
  4. ↑ "Biggest day in Old Trafford's rich history as ground is saved". The Independent. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  5. ↑ "Emirates Old Trafford". Sky Sports. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  6. ↑ "The Old Trafford Story, Part 1". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  7. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, ix–x.
  8. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, 2–4.
  9. 1 2 3 "The Old Trafford Story, Part 2". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  10. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, 21–23.
  11. ↑ "Smallest margin of victories". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "20 great Ashes moments No11: Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford, 1902". The Guardian. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "The Old Trafford Story, Part 3". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  14. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, xii–xiv.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "The Old Trafford Story, Part 4". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  16. ↑ "Best figures in a match". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  17. ↑ Ashdown, John (13 May 2013). "20 great Ashes moments No5: Jim Laker takes 19 wickets in match, 1956". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  18. ↑ Ross, The Gillette Cup, 18–19.
  19. 1 2 3 Mortimer, Old Trafford, xxi.
  20. 1 2 Mortimer, Old Trafford, centre photos.
  21. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, 148–150.
  22. ↑ "Tendulkar's Timeline". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  23. ↑ Ronay, Barney (29 April 2013). "20 great Ashes moments No1: Shane Warne's ball of the century, 1993". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  24. ↑ "Unusual dismissals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  25. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, 191–193
  26. ↑ "Crowds flock to third Test climax". BBC Sport. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  27. ↑ "Cricinfo Statsguru". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  28. ↑ "Rose Bowl awarded Test in 2011". BBC Sport. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  29. ↑ "Abandoned Matches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  30. ↑ Mortimer, Old Trafford, xvi.
  31. ↑ "The Hover Cover". Kenyon Textiles Ltd. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  32. ↑ "New Hover Cover for Old Trafford". Bolton Evening News. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  33. 1 2 "Old Trafford Re-Development". LCCC. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  34. ↑ "The New Old Trafford Unveiled". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  35. ↑ Brenkley, Stephen (15 August 2004). "Old Trafford Diary". London: The Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  36. ↑ "The Point". LCCC. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  37. 1 2 "The Point is Open for Business". LCCC. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  38. ↑ "Indoor Cricket School Facilities". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  39. ↑ "Old Trafford Lodge". LCCC. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  40. ↑ "Lancashire Announce Profitable 2008". cricketworld.com. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  41. 1 2 "Hilton Garden Inn at Emirates Old Trafford". e-architect. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  42. ↑ "Four-way agreement on Old Trafford future". LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  43. ↑ "New 'Ends' Named". LCCC. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  44. 1 2 "Lancashire Unveils the New Old Trafford". LCCC. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  45. ↑ "Lancashire Gain Planning Permission". LCCC. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  46. ↑ "Old Trafford Redevelopment Gets Go-Ahead". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  47. 1 2 Brenkley, Stephen (5 July 2011). "Biggest Day in Old Trafford's History". London: The Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  48. ↑ "Lancashire CCC Starts Work". BBC. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  49. ↑ "Day of Destiny Ends in Victory". LCCC. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  50. ↑ "Lancashire under the spotlight". Manchester Evening News. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  51. ↑ "Let There Be Lights". LCCC. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  52. ↑ "Trafford Council Planning Application Documents". Trafford Council. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  53. ↑ "Cardiff to stage first Ashes Test". BBC Sport. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  54. ↑ "Old Trafford gets Bangladesh Test". BBC Sport. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  55. 1 2 "Ashes Return to Old Trafford". ECB Sport. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  56. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys confirm festival plans". NME. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  57. ↑ NME.COM. "NME Reviews - Radiohead | NME.COM". NME.COM. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  58. ↑ "Old Trafford parking" (PDF). LCCC. Retrieved 27 August 2009.

See also

References

  • Mortimer, David (2005). Old Trafford: Test Match Cricket Since 1884. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3667-3. 
  • Ross, Gordon (1981). The Gillette Cup 1963 to 1980. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-362-00538-9. 
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