A Look at the 2019 World Cup Venues in England and Wales

Here’s a look at all the stadiums in England and Wales who will be hosting matches in the ICC World Cup 2019

The World Cup will be played from 30 May to 14 July.

(Photo Courtesy: ICC)

The 2019 World Cup kicks off in England and Wales on Thursday, 30 May, with hosts England playing South Africa in the first game of the tournament at the Kennington Oval in London. Forty-eight matches will be played across 11 venues in what promises to be a memorable tournament.

Hosts England are being touted as one of the favourites to win the tournament along with India and Australia.

Before the tournament kicks off, here’s a look at all the venues where the matches will be held.

County Ground, Bristol, Since 1889

Bristol will host three games. 

Capacity: 11,000

Fixtures:

1. Afghanistan vs Australia (1 June)
2. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (7 June)
3. Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (11 June)

About the venue: It was bought by WG Grace in 1889. Bristol also hosted World Cup games in 1983 and 1999, when Sachin Tendulkar made 140 not out off 101 balls against Kenya. The pitch can be a minefield, but this month it staged a thriller as England successfully chased down Pakistan's 358 in the recently-concluded bilateral series.

County Ground, Taunton,

Since 1882

Taunton will host three matches. 

Capacity: 8,000

Fixtures:

1. Afghanistan vs New Zealand (8 June)
2. Australia vs Pakistan (12 June)
3. West Indies vs Bangladesh (17 June)

About the venue: Overlooked by the towers of three churches, Taunton featured at previous men's World Cups, once in 1983 and twice in 1999. These have been the only men's ODIs played at the ground; which also means that all six teams are playing here for the first time.

Edgbaston, Birmingham,

Since 1886

Birmingham will host 5 games including the Semi-Final on 11 July.

Capacity: 24,500

Fixtures:

1. New Zealand vs South Africa (19 June)
2. New Zealand vs Pakistan ( 26 June)
3. England vs India (30 June)
4. Bangladesh vs India ( 2 July)
5. Semi-Final ( 11 July)

About the venue: Edgbaston will host a semifinal for the fourth time, and the showdown between No. 1-ranked England and No. 2 India. Also, South Africa returns to the scene of one of its worst World Cup moments, the 1999 semifinal against Australia, when a run out in the last over left the score tied and advanced Australia.

Headingley, Leeds,

Since 1890

Birmingham will host 4 matches. 

Capacity: 18,350

Fixtures:

1. England vs Sri Lanka (21 June)
2. Pakistan vs Afghanistan (29 June)
3. Afghanistan vs. West Indies (4 July)
4. Sri Lanka vs India (6 July)

About the venue: Headingley pitches are fickle, and are a paradise for seam bowling, especially when it clouds over. Of the top 18 best ODI bowling figures, 17 are by pacemen. Winston Davis has the best World Cup figures here of 7-51 in 1983 when the West Indies thrashed Australia by 101 runs. England, which plays Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, has hit 300-plus four times here since the last World Cup.

Lord's, London,

Since 1814

England’s Mecca of Cricket will host 5 games including the Final on 14 July. 

Capacity: 28,500

Fixtures:

1. Pakistan vs. South Africa ( 23 June)
2. England vs. Australia ( 25 June)
3. New Zealand vs. Australia ( 29 June)
4. Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (5 July)
5. Final ( 14 July)

About the venue: Like when England previously staged the Cricket World Cup, Lord's will host the final, its fifth. England has reached the final at home only once, in 1979, when it was crushed by the West Indies, which hasn't won it since. The highest total at Lord's still comes from the first ODI there, in 1975, when England made 334-4 against India to open that World Cup.

Old Trafford, Manchester,

Since 1857

One of the semi-finals will be played in Manchester including five other games. 

Capacity: 24,600

Fixtures:

1. India vs Pakistan (16 June)
2. England vs Afghanistan (18 June)
3. West Indies vs New Zealand (22 June)
4. West Indies vs India ( 27 June)
5. Australia vs. South Africa (6 July)
6. Semi-Final (9 July)

About the venue: Old Trafford's first match will be the biggest of the pool stage, India vs Pakistan. They previously met here in the 1999 World Cup and India won by 47 runs. The Pavilion End was recently renamed the James Anderson End after England's highest test wicket-taker. The ground's highest total is only 318-7 by Sri Lanka in 2006. Viv Richards still holds the ground's highest ODI score, 189 not out, in 1984 against England.

The Oval, London,

Since 1845

The Oval will host four games including one between India and Australia. 

Capacity: 25,000

Fixtures:

1. England vs South Africa (30 May)
2. South Africa vs Bangladesh (2 June)
3. Bangladesh vs. New Zealand (5 June)
4. India vs. Australia (9 June)

About the venue: Where international cricket began. England played its first test here in 1880 against Australia, and won with a century from WG Grace. England opens the tournament here against South Africa. England has won 11 of its last 13 ODIs at the Oval. Bangladesh has two chances to win at the Oval for the first time.

Riverside, Chester-le-Street,

Since 1995

Chester-le-Street will play host to three games in the World Cup. 

Capacity: 14,000

Fixtures:

1. Sri Lanka vs South Africa (28 June)
2. Sri Lanka vs West Indies (1 July)
3. England vs New Zealand (3 July)

About the venue: The most northerly ground in England. Normally, Riverside seats 5,000, but temporary seating will more than triple that. The highest Cricket World Cup total at the ground is 261-6 by Pakistan en route to beating Scotland in 1999. The highest total overall is England's 314-4 last year to beat Australia's 310-8. They are two of the only three 300-plus scores at the ground.

Rose Bowl, Southampton,

Since 2001

Southampton will host to India vs Afghanistan on 22 June

Capacity: 17,000

Fixtures:

1. South Africa vs India (5 June)
2. South Africa vs West Indies (10 June)
3. England vs West Indies (14 June)
4. India vs Afghanistan ( 22 June)
5. Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ( 24 June)

About the venue: Though a Cricket World Cup venue for the first time, the Hampshire Bowl hosted five games in the 2004 Champions Trophy. Its potential is obvious from its most recent ODI this month, when England made 373-3 and Pakistan came up just short at 361-7. They're easily the two highest totals at the ground.

Trent Bridge, Nottingham,

Since 1841

5 games will be played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Capacity: 17,000

Fixtures:

1. West Indies vs Pakistan ( 31 May)
2. England vs Pakistan (3 June)
3. Australia vs West Indies (6 June)
4. India vs. New Zealand (13 June)
5. Australia vs. Bangladesh ( 20 June)

About the venue: First hosted an ODI in 1974. Also hosted Cricket World Cup games in 1975, 1979, 1983, and 1999. Trent Bridge has staged the two highest totals in ODI history. England scored 481-6 in a big win against Australia last year, breaking its record of 444-3 against Pakistan in 2016.

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff,

Since 1854

Cardiff will host four games in the 2019 World Cup. 

Capacity: 15,200

Fixtures:

1. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (1June)
2. Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka (4 June)
3. England vs. Bangladesh (8 June)
4. South Africa vs. Afghanistan (15 June)

About the venue: The first international at Sophia Gardens was the 1999 World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand. The venue was also the site of Bangladesh's first win over Australia in 2005. Bangladesh also took down New Zealand here in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Bangladesh will play England here for the first time.