Quick answer
The oldest cricket grounds in Sri Lanka are mostly colonial-era sites: Galle's Esplanade, now Galle International Stadium; Asgiriya in Kandy, Trinity College's ground; the club grounds of Colombo's Cinnamon Gardens, including the Colombo Cricket Club, the SSC, the NCC, the P Sara Oval and Bloomfield; and the planters' grounds of the tea country, such as Radella. Many date their cricket to the nineteenth century.
Key takeaways
- Cricket arrived in Ceylon in the nineteenth century with the British.
- Galle's Esplanade and Kandy's Asgiriya are among the oldest sites.
- Colombo's club grounds cluster in Cinnamon Gardens.
- The tea country's planters' clubs built grounds among the estates.
- School cricket dates back to the nineteenth century, with the Royal-Thomian first played in 1879.
How cricket arrived
Cricket reached Ceylon in the nineteenth century, played first by British soldiers and officials in Colombo and other towns. The Colombo Cricket Club, one of the earliest, traces its roots to this period, and the game soon spread to schools, local clubs and the planters of the hill country.
By the late nineteenth century, cricket was established in Colombo's elite schools, and the Royal-Thomian, first played in 1879, became one of the oldest school rivalries in the world.
Clubs organised by community, Sinhalese, Tamil, Burgher, Muslim and European, followed, each with its own ground, and many of those grounds survive.
- →Arrived: nineteenth century.
- →Spread through: clubs, schools and planters.
- →Royal-Thomian: first played in 1879.
Colombo's club grounds
Cinnamon Gardens holds the densest cluster of historic grounds. The Colombo Cricket Club on Maitland Crescent, the Sinhalese Sports Club and the Nondescripts Cricket Club on Maitland Place, Bloomfield on Reid Avenue and, a short ride away, the Tamil Union's P Sara Oval in Borella all date their clubs to the colonial era.
Some of these grounds became Test venues after 1982, while others remained club grounds. Together they form a heritage quarter that can be explored on foot in a morning.
The companion page on Colombo's cricket grounds in one day suggests a route.
- →CCC: one of the oldest clubs.
- →SSC, NCC, Bloomfield: Cinnamon Gardens.
- →P Sara Oval: Borella.
Galle's Esplanade
Galle's cricket ground stands on the Esplanade below the fort, open land used for parades, sport and racing in the colonial era. Local and school cricket was played here for decades before the ground became a Test venue in 1998.
The ground has been rebuilt more than once, most dramatically after the 2004 tsunami, but the site, between the fort walls and the town, is one of the oldest sporting spaces on the island.
The companion page on the history of Galle International Stadium tells the full story.
Asgiriya in Kandy
Asgiriya, the ground of Trinity College in Kandy, is one of the oldest and most atmospheric grounds in Sri Lanka. Steep banks surround the field, and the school's history reaches back to the nineteenth century.
Asgiriya hosted Tests from 1983 to 2007, including Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka, before Pallekele took over as Kandy's international ground. It remains a school ground and hosts school and domestic matches.
Lankan Stays & Trails can include Asgiriya in a Kandy stay, with the Temple of the Tooth and the lake on the same day.
- →Owner: Trinity College.
- →Tests: 1983 to 2007.
- →Now: school and domestic cricket.
The planters' grounds
In the hill country, British planters' clubs built cricket grounds among the tea estates, and inter-district matches were highlights of the colonial calendar. The Dimbula club's ground at Radella, near Nuwara Eliya, is the best known survivor.
These grounds are small and irregular, cut into the hillsides, and many are now used by estate schools and local clubs.
The companion page on tea country cricket grounds covers them in more detail.
Visiting the old grounds
Most of the old grounds are club or school property, so entry outside match days is at the owners' discretion. Ask politely at the gate, and accept a refusal if training or maintenance is under way.
The best time to visit is during a domestic or school match, when the gates are open and spectators are welcome, often for free.
A heritage-minded itinerary might combine Colombo's club grounds, Asgiriya in Kandy, Radella in the tea country and Galle's Esplanade, all on a classic route around the island.
- →Ask at the gate.
- →Best on match days.
- →A natural fit with a classic island route.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest cricket ground in Sri Lanka?
It is hard to name a single oldest ground, as records from the nineteenth century are patchy. Galle's Esplanade, Asgiriya in Kandy and the club grounds of Colombo, including the Colombo Cricket Club, all date their cricket to the colonial era and are among the oldest.
When did cricket arrive in Sri Lanka?
Cricket arrived in Ceylon in the nineteenth century with British soldiers, officials and planters. It spread quickly to schools and local clubs, and by the late nineteenth century it was well established. The Royal-Thomian school match was first played in 1879.
Can I visit Asgiriya in Kandy?
Asgiriya is Trinity College's ground, so entry is at the school's discretion. On school or domestic match days, spectators are usually welcome. Otherwise, the ground can sometimes be seen from outside. Ask politely and follow any instructions from staff.
Which old grounds are still Test venues?
Of the older grounds, the SSC and the P Sara Oval in Colombo and Galle International Stadium still host Tests. Asgiriya in Kandy and the Colombo Cricket Club ground are former Test venues now used for school and domestic cricket.
Is there a cricket heritage tour in Sri Lanka?
There is no single official heritage tour, but a classic island route can easily include Colombo's club grounds, Asgiriya in Kandy, Radella in the tea country and Galle's Esplanade. A driver who knows the grounds, or a cricket-minded guide, makes the trip richer.
Why are there so many old clubs in Colombo?
In the colonial era, sports clubs in Colombo were organised largely by community, Sinhalese, Tamil, Burgher, Muslim and European, and each acquired a ground. Many clustered in and around Cinnamon Gardens, which is why so many historic grounds sit close together today.
Are the old grounds still used for cricket?
Yes. Most of the old club and school grounds are still used for domestic, club and school cricket, and some for Tests. The tea country grounds are used less often, but Radella still hosts occasional matches.