Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottingham, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire’s home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of the Twenty20 Cup twice. The site is located very close to the main bridge over the River Trent and also close to the football stadia of Nottingham Forest and Notts County.

Trent Bridge was first used as a cricket ground in the 1830s. The first recorded cricket match was held on an area of ground behind the Trent Bridge Inn in 1838. Trent Bridge hosted its first Test match in 1899, for England playing against Australia, making it the third oldest ground to be used as a Test venue after Lord’s and Eden Gardens in Calcutta.

The ground was first opened in 1841 by William Clarke, husband of the proprietress of the Trent Bridge Inn and himself Captain of the All England Cricket Team. He was commemorated in 1990 by the opening of the new William Clarke Stand which incorporates the Rushcliffe Suite. The West Park Sports Ground in West Bridgford was the private ground of Sir Julien Cahn, a furniture millionaire, who often played host to touring national sides.

Ground

Trent Bridge is considered by many to be one of the best grounds in the world to watch cricket. Being described variously as ” One of the finest cricket venues across the globe”, the “Yankees Stadium of Cricket”, and a “national treasure”, the ground also enjoys a reputation for friendliness and safety that is second to none. Trent Bridge’s serene pavilion, kept within the architectural parameters of its 1889 foundation, is thought of as one of the most renowned trademarks of cricket. Recent developments include the £7.2 million Radcliffe Road Cricket Centre, opened in 1998 and the state of the art £1.9 million Fox Road stand, which has received awards for its architectural excellence. The latter includes a modernistic aircraft-wing roof and was opened in 2002 despite a conflict with a small group of local residents over the lack of sunlight that this would cause to their properties. Nottinghamshire CCC have recently announced plans to improve the ground further with the construction of a new £8.2 million stand on the west side of the pitch. Some consider the only downside to the ground to be the tower block next to the Radcliffe Road stand which was built on a plot of land leased to the County Council since the 1960′s.

Bowling takes place from the Pavilion End and the Radcliffe Road End, with the wickets laid square of the Fox Road, William Clarke and Parr stands.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

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Trent Bridge official website
wikipedia entry
England and Wales Cricket Board – ECB
BBC cricket coverage

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