At a glance
- Famous old ground in Nottingham
- The world’s third oldest Test venue
- Easy access via bus, tram or train
Set on the banks of the River Trent, and in sight of both Nottingham Forest and Notts County football grounds, Trent Bridge has hosted cricket since the 1830’s. However, in July 1826, a team from Nottingham travelled to take on a combined Sheffield-Leicester XI, which was the first ‘official’ match for Nottinghamshire.
The history of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
Trent Bridge was first used a cricket ground in the 1830’s, with the first recorded match held on an area behind the Trent Bridge Inn in 1838. The first Test match held at the ground was in 1899, with England playing Australia.
Trent Bridge opened in 1841 when William Clarke, who was married to the proprietress of the Trent Bridge Inn, established the ground. In 1990, the venue commemorated Clarke by naming a stand in his honour.
Trent Bridge is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful grounds in world cricket. Its pavilion, which retains much of its original 1889 architecture, is particularly distinctive for facing the pitch at an angle.
More 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.
Memorable matches
One match stands out above all the other international and county fixtures played at Trent Bridge — England v Australia in the 2015 Ashes series.
On the opening day of the Test, England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and invited Australia to bat first. Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner walked out to face Stuart Broad and Mark Wood.
Broad struck with the third ball of the match, dismissing Rogers for 0, caught by Cook. Three balls later, he removed Steve Smith for 6, caught by Joe Root.
Australia were 10-2 after the first over. Wood then removed Warner for 0, before Broad claimed another wicket in his next over as Shaun Marsh departed for a duck.
Australia were eventually bowled out for just 60 in 18.3 overs and 94 minutes, with Broad producing remarkable figures of 8-15 from 9.3 overs.
England went on to win the match by an innings and 78 runs on the third day, sealing a 3-2 Ashes series victory.
Another memorable Ashes encounter at Trent Bridge came in 2013 — although this time it was Australia who left with the standout memory.
After bowling England out for 215, Australia collapsed to 117-9 in reply. Debutant Ashton Agar then joined Phillip Hughes at the crease, and together they produced a remarkable 163-run partnership, setting a new record for the highest 10th-wicket stand in Test cricket.
Despite the fightback, England eventually held on to win the match by 14 runs.
Getting to Trent Bridge
The ground is fairly well accessible from all routes. There are regular buses, with stops on Bridgford Road and Radcliffe Road. If you fancy a walk, then the tram stop at Meadows Embankment is about 20 minutes away from the ground, as is the Train Station.
Depending on whether you go for a domestic or International match, parking is available at various places around the ground. All come with a cost, again depending on what day you decide to go.
For more information regarding tickets and parking, click here.
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