Quick answer
Sri Lanka's tea country cricket grounds are the old planters' club grounds of the hill country, built in the colonial era among the tea estates. The best known is the Dimbula club's ground at Radella, between Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele, often described as one of the highest cricket grounds in the world. Matches are occasional, but the grounds can often be seen from the road and make a memorable stop on a hill-country drive.
Key takeaways
- The planters' clubs of the colonial era built cricket grounds among the tea estates.
- The Dimbula club's ground at Radella is the best known.
- Radella lies between Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele.
- Matches are occasional, so the grounds are usually seen from the road.
- The hill country is cool, so bring a layer.
Cricket and the planters
When British planters opened up the hill country for coffee and then tea in the nineteenth century, they brought their sports with them. Planters' clubs in the main districts, such as Dimbula, Dikoya and Uva, became social centres with bars, libraries, golf, tennis and cricket.
Cricket matches between the districts, and against teams from Colombo, were highlights of the social calendar. The grounds were cut into the hillsides, often the only flat land for miles.
After independence, many clubs declined, but some grounds survive and are still used for local and occasional representative cricket.
- →Built: by colonial planters' clubs.
- →Districts: Dimbula, Dikoya, Uva and others.
- →Some grounds still in use.
Radella: cricket among the tea
The Dimbula club's ground at Radella, between Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele, is the best known of the tea country grounds. Surrounded by tea bushes and hills, it is often described as one of the highest cricket grounds in the world, at an altitude of well over a thousand metres.
The ground is still used for cricket, including local matches and occasional festival or touring games. When no match is on, it can often be seen from the road, a green oval set among the dark green tea.
Access to the club and ground is at the club's discretion, so ask politely if you would like to look closer.
- →Location: between Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele.
- →Altitude: well over a thousand metres.
- →Use: local and occasional festival matches.
Other hill-country grounds
Other old planters' clubs in the hill country also have grounds, some still used for cricket and others for football or local events. Their state varies, and many are now used by estate schools and local clubs.
Nuwara Eliya itself has sports grounds and the famous golf course and racecourse, all relics of the town's colonial past.
A driver who knows the area can point out old club grounds on the way between tea estates, and some estate bungalows can arrange a visit.
Cricket at altitude
Playing or watching cricket in the hill country is very different from the coast. The air is cool, mist can roll in quickly and rain is common, especially in the monsoon months. The ball is said to travel further in the thin air.
Spectators should bring a warm layer and a rain jacket, even on a sunny morning. The light can be beautiful, with low cloud over the tea and the hills.
Lankan Stays & Trails can plan a hill-country stay in a tea estate bungalow, with a stop at Radella on the way between Nuwara Eliya and the Hatton area.
- →Cool, misty and often wet.
- →Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket.
- →Beautiful light over the tea.
Visiting the tea country grounds
Radella is a short drive from Nuwara Eliya on the road towards Talawakele and Hatton, and an easy stop on the way to or from the tea estates of Dimbula. Allow time for photographs and a look at the tea around the ground.
Combine the stop with a tea factory visit, a walk through the estates or the waterfalls around Talawakele, such as St Clair's and Devon.
Matches are occasional, so check locally if you hope to see cricket, and accept that most visits are to an empty ground in a lovely setting.
- →From Nuwara Eliya: a short drive.
- →Combine with: tea factories and waterfalls.
- →Matches: occasional, check locally.
Why visit
The tea country grounds are among the most beautiful cricket grounds anywhere, and they tell a story of the colonial hill country that the big stadiums do not.
For cricket lovers, Radella is a quiet pilgrimage, and for photographers, a perfect subject.
For anyone driving through the tea country, it is a reason to pause and look.
- →Among the most beautiful grounds anywhere.
- →A story of the colonial hill country.
- →A perfect photographic stop.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Radella cricket ground?
The Dimbula club's ground at Radella lies between Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele in the hill country, a short drive from Nuwara Eliya on the road towards Hatton. It is surrounded by tea estates and is often described as one of the highest cricket grounds in the world.
Is cricket still played at Radella?
Yes, the ground is still used for local matches and occasional festival or touring games, though fixtures are irregular. Check locally if you hope to see a match. Most visitors see an empty ground, which is still a memorable sight among the tea.
What are planters' clubs?
Planters' clubs were social clubs founded by British tea and coffee planters in the hill country during the colonial era. They had bars, libraries, golf, tennis and cricket grounds, and inter-district matches were social highlights. Some clubs and grounds survive today.
Can I visit a tea country cricket ground?
Many grounds, including Radella, can be seen from the road. Access to the club and ground itself is at the club's discretion, so ask politely. A driver who knows the area or a tea estate bungalow can sometimes arrange a closer look.
Is it cold at the tea country cricket grounds?
The hill country is much cooler than the coast. At Radella, well over a thousand metres up, mornings and evenings can be chilly, and mist and rain are common. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket, even on a sunny day.
What else is near Radella?
Radella is close to Nuwara Eliya, with its colonial buildings, golf course and racecourse, and to the tea estates of Dimbula, where tea factories welcome visitors. St Clair's and Devon waterfalls are on the road towards Talawakele and Hatton.
Is Radella the highest cricket ground in the world?
Radella is often described as one of the highest cricket grounds in the world, at well over a thousand metres. Other high grounds exist in the Himalayas and elsewhere, so the claim is best taken loosely. Either way, the setting among the tea is extraordinary.