News Sports Cricket A capsule look at venues for the 2015 Cricket World Cup

A capsule look at venues for the 2015 Cricket World Cup

With world cup a few days away, the Host Australia and New Zealand have finished giving final touches to the venues where matches are to be held. There are 14 grounds which will be hosting

Saxton Oval (Nelson)

Since: 2009

Capacity: 5,000

World Cup 2015 matches: Group stages: West Indies vs. Ireland (Feb. 16), Zimbabwe vs. United Arab Emirates (Feb. 19), Bangladesh vs. Scotland (March 5).

About the venue: The ground was constructed by the Nelson Cricket Association which moved from its previous home at Trafalgar Park in 2009. It hosted its first List A and first-class matches in 2011 after a women's T20 international between New Zealand and England in 2010. The first one-day international, between New Zealand and the West Indies, was played there in 2014.

 

Hagley Oval (Christchurch)

Since: 1867.

Capacity: 20,000.

World Cup 2015 matches: First match: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (Feb. 14). Group stages: Pakistan vs. West Indies (Feb. 21), England vs. Scotland (Feb 23).

About the venue: Hagley Oval, in the center of the large, grassy and tree-lined Hagley Park on the banks of the Avon River, hosted its first recorded cricket match in 1867. A first-class match was played there for the first time in 1907 and representative cricket returned there intermittently until 1994. But the ground gained its second lease on life when it was redeveloped as Christchurch's main cricket venue after the devastating 2011 earthquake in which 185 people died. It hosted its first one-day international, between Canada and Scotland, in 2014 and its first test, between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, later that year.

 

University Oval (Dunedin)

Since: 1979.

Capacity: 3,500.

World Cup 2015 matches: Group stages: New Zealand vs. Scotland (Feb. 17), Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan (Feb. 22), Afghanistan vs. Scotland (Feb. 26).

About the venue: The University Oval, previously known as Logan Park, was owned by the University of Otago until it was transferred to the Dunedin City Council after its renovation in the early 2000s. It stands in leafy parkland in the north of Dunedin, near the university campus, and is home to the Otago Cricket Association and the Otago University Rugby Club. Dunedin was settled by Scottish migrants and is known as the Edinburgh of the South, hence Scotland's two matches at the venue.