Bloomfield Cricket Ground in Colombo

Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club is one of the long-established clubs of Colombo, with roots in the twentieth-century growth of club cricket in the city. Like its neighbours, it fields teams in Sri Lanka's domestic competitions.

The club has produced players who went on to represent Sri Lanka, and its pavilion carries the honours boards and photographs that tell its story.

It also has an athletics tradition, as its full name suggests, and the club remains an active sporting institution.

The ground on Reid Avenue is a compact club ground with a pavilion and small stands, surrounded by the trees and institutional buildings of Cinnamon Gardens.

It hosts domestic matches and club games, and occasional representative fixtures. As a private club, Bloomfield decides who may enter outside match days.

On domestic match days, spectators are usually welcome, often for free or a small charge.

Reid Avenue runs through the heart of Cinnamon Gardens, past the university, the Colombo Racecourse and the Independence Square area. Bloomfield sits among these landmarks, a short walk from the SSC and the other clubs.

Independence Memorial Hall and the Arcade shopping area are nearby, as are the National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park, making Bloomfield easy to fit into a morning of sightseeing.

Lankan Stays & Trails can plan a Colombo cricket walk or drive that includes Bloomfield and its neighbours.

The Cinnamon Gardens district was laid out in the colonial era on land once used for cinnamon plantations, which gave the area its name. Its broad avenues, large houses and institutional buildings make it one of the most pleasant parts of Colombo to walk, especially in the cooler early morning.

Domestic matches at Bloomfield are relaxed, with small crowds of members and regulars, and the cricket can be very good, as many first-class players are on the fringe of the national team.

Bring water and a hat, as shade is limited. Food options inside are basic, but the Arcade at Independence Square has cafes nearby.

It is polite to ask before taking photographs, and to respect any dress code around the pavilion.

The atmosphere is closer to a village green than a stadium, with members watching from the pavilion and a handful of spectators around the boundary. For visitors used to big crowds, it is a refreshing way to see the game, and the close view makes it easy to appreciate the skill of the players.

Matches usually run from the morning to the late afternoon, so it is easy to drop in for a session and walk on to the other grounds.

The ground is roughly 10 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from Galle Face or Fort. Check Sri Lanka Cricket's domestic schedule or ask the club for fixtures.

Without a match, the ground can usually be seen from the gate. Ask politely if you would like to look inside.

The best plan is to combine Bloomfield with the other clubs and the Racecourse on a single morning.

Bloomfield is one of the grounds that make Colombo's club cricket scene special. For cricket lovers, a short visit adds depth to a trip, and for groundhoppers, it is another historic club ground to add.

For others, it is a pleasant part of a walk through Cinnamon Gardens.

Seeing several club grounds in one morning gives a real sense of how Sri Lankan cricket is organised.