Quick answer
The Nondescripts Cricket Club, the NCC, is a historic Colombo club founded in the late nineteenth century, with its ground on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, close to the SSC. It is one of Sri Lanka's strongest domestic clubs and has produced many international players. The ground hosts domestic cricket and occasional warm-up matches, and visitors can usually watch domestic games, subject to the club's rules.
Key takeaways
- The NCC was founded in the late nineteenth century.
- Its ground is on Maitland Place, close to the SSC.
- It is one of Sri Lanka's strongest domestic clubs.
- It hosts domestic cricket and occasional warm-up matches.
- Visitors can usually watch domestic games, subject to the club's rules.
A club with a modest name
The Nondescripts Cricket Club was founded in Colombo in the late nineteenth century, and its unusual name has been a talking point ever since. Like other Colombo clubs, it grew from the colonial era's community-based clubs and became one of the leading forces in domestic cricket.
The NCC has produced many Sri Lanka players and has a long record in the country's first-class competitions. Its pavilion holds photographs, honours boards and memories of generations of cricketers.
Today it is a working club with members, teams at several levels and a busy fixture list.
- →Founded: late nineteenth century.
- →Known as: the NCC.
- →Strong domestic record.
The ground
The NCC ground is a compact club ground with a pavilion and stands, set beside the SSC on Maitland Place. The two grounds are so close that on a busy day you can hear the cricket at one from the other.
The ground hosts domestic first-class and limited-overs matches, club games and occasional warm-up matches for touring teams.
As a private club, the NCC decides who may enter outside match days, so ask politely at the gate.
- →Beside the SSC.
- →Domestic and warm-up matches.
- →Private: ask at the gate.
Watching a match
Domestic matches at the NCC are relaxed affairs, with small crowds of members and regulars. Entry is often free or cheap, subject to the club's rules, and visitors are usually welcome.
Warm-up matches for touring teams, when they are held here, can draw larger crowds, including travelling fans who want a close look at their team before the internationals.
Bring water and a hat, as shade is limited in parts of the ground.
The standard of domestic first-class cricket is high, and a match at the NCC is a chance to see future Sri Lanka players at close range. Regulars are often happy to explain who is playing well, and a conversation in the stands can be the best part of the day.
Matches usually start in the morning and run through the afternoon, with lunch and tea intervals, so it is easy to drop in for a session and continue to the other grounds nearby.
The Maitland Place cluster
Maitland Place and the streets around it hold Colombo's densest concentration of cricket grounds. The SSC is next door, the Colombo Cricket Club is on Maitland Crescent and Bloomfield is on Reid Avenue, all within a short walk.
A morning walking between these grounds, with a stop at the National Museum or Viharamahadevi Park, is one of the best ways to see Colombo's cricket heritage.
Lankan Stays & Trails can plan a Colombo cricket day that links the clubs and the bigger grounds.
- →SSC: next door.
- →CCC and Bloomfield: a short walk.
- →National Museum: nearby.
Visiting the NCC
The ground is roughly 10 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from Galle Face or Fort, depending on traffic. Domestic fixtures are listed by Sri Lanka Cricket, and the club may post its own schedule.
The best time to visit is during a domestic match, when the gates are open. On other days, the ground can be seen from the gate.
Ask before taking photographs inside, and respect any dress code in the pavilion areas.
- →Best on a domestic match day.
- →Ask before taking photos.
- →Respect pavilion dress codes.
Why visit
The NCC is a reminder that Sri Lankan cricket's strength lies in its clubs. The players who filled the national team came through grounds like this one, and the club's honours boards tell that story.
For cricket lovers, a visit adds depth to a Colombo trip, and for groundhoppers, the NCC is a classic club ground to add to the list.
For other visitors, it is a short stop in leafy Cinnamon Gardens.
- →A classic Colombo club ground.
- →Honours boards tell the history.
- →A short stop in Cinnamon Gardens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nondescripts Cricket Club?
The Nondescripts Cricket Club, known as the NCC, is a historic Colombo cricket club founded in the late nineteenth century. It is one of Sri Lanka's strongest domestic clubs, has produced many international players and plays at its own ground on Maitland Place.
Where is the NCC ground?
The NCC ground is on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7, next to the Sinhalese Sports Club. The Colombo Cricket Club and Bloomfield are a short walk away. It is roughly 10 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from Galle Face or Fort.
Can I watch a match at the NCC?
Domestic matches at the NCC are usually open to spectators, often for free or a small charge, subject to the club's rules. Warm-up matches for touring teams may also be played here. Check Sri Lanka Cricket's domestic schedule or ask the club.
Has the NCC hosted international matches?
The NCC ground is used mainly for domestic cricket, club games and occasional warm-up matches for touring teams, rather than full internationals. For Tests and one-day internationals in Colombo, the main grounds are the SSC, the P Sara Oval and the Premadasa.
Why is it called the Nondescripts?
The club's modest name dates from its founding in the late nineteenth century and has become part of its identity. Whatever the original intention, the NCC is anything but nondescript in Sri Lankan cricket, with a long record of domestic success.
Is the NCC worth visiting for tourists?
For cricket lovers, it is a worthwhile short stop, especially combined with the SSC next door and the other clubs nearby. For other visitors, it is part of the leafy streets of Cinnamon Gardens rather than a major sight.
Can I go inside the NCC on a non-match day?
The NCC is a private club, so entry outside match days is at its discretion. Ask politely at the gate, and accept a refusal if training or maintenance is under way. The ground can often be seen from the gate.