Radella Cricket Grounds

Infobox cricket ground
ground_name = Radella Cricket Grounds
nickname =

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caption = Radella Cricket Grounds
country = Sri Lanka
location = Radella, Nuwara Eliya
establishment = 1856
seating_capacity =
owner = Dimbula Cricket Club
tenants = Sri Lanka Cricket
end1 = Score Board End
end2 = Pavilion End
international =
firsttestdate =
firsttestyear =
firsttesthome =
firsttestaway =
lasttestdate =
lasttestyear =
lasttesthome =
lasttestaway =
firstodidate =
firstodiyear =
firstodihome =
firstodiaway =
lastodidate =
lastodiyear =
lastodihome =
lastodiaway =
year2 = 1857 – present
club2 = Dimbula Cricket Club
year1 = 1814 – present
club1 =
date = August 19
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/25/1735.html CricketArchive

"Radella Cricket Grounds" is a Cricket ground in Sri Lanka situated in Radella, a village close proximity to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. The grounds is also known as Dimbula Cricket Club Ground.

Importance

This cricket ground considered unique,is being situated at the altitude of 4,000 ft. Radella Cricket Grounds is one of the few Cricket grounds situated 4,000 ft above sea level. It's settings is described as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds of the world. [cite web |url=http://www.reddottours.com/Activity/Cricket/Venues/HillCountry.php |title=Hill Country Venues|accessdate=2008-08-15|work=www.reddottours.com]

History

Radella Cricket Grounds is home to the Dimbula Cricket Club,which founded in 1856. [cite web |url=http://www.historyofceylontea.com/Tea_Feature/tea_feat_history_tea_cricket_sl.html |title=History of the Grounds|accessdate=2008-08-15|work=www.historyofceylontea.com] The first recorded match played in 18-19 November 1892, between touring Lord Hawke's XI and Up-country XI. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/134/134949.html |title=Up-Country XI v Lord Hawke's XI|accessdate=2008-09-15|work=www.cricketarchive.com] Another notable match the grounds played host to is the tour match of MCC which captained by future England cricket captain Mike Smith against Up-country XI in 1962. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/138/138041.html |title=Up-Country XI v Marylebone Cricket Club|accessdate=2008-09-15|work=www.cricketarchive.com]

Recent times

What could have be the grounds most highlighted game is New Zealand's tour match against president's XI in 1983/84 tour. Unfortunately game washed out to rain.cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/44/44514.html |title=Sri Lanka Board President's XI v New Zealanders|accessdate=2008-08-15|work=www.cricketarchive.com] But Sir Richard Hadlee famously disclosed Sri Lanka is a good place to Swing Bowling owing to higher altitude and cloudy sky.

Since then a little cricket has played here. Four Youth Cricket World Cup matches played here including the match between Pakistan under-19s versus Kenya under-19s.The MCC's match against Janashakthi Group in 2000/01 is the last notable match played in the grounds.

International Cricket Council helps Sri Lanka Cricket to renovate the grounds. [cite web |url=http://content-sl.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/261805.html|title=ICC to help upgrade ten Sri Lanka venues|accessdate=2008-09-01|work=www.cricinfo.com]

List of Matches Played at the ground

First Class Matches

* Sri Lanka Board President's XI v New Zealand [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/25/1735_f.html |title=Sri Lanka Board President's XI v New Zealanders|accessdate=2008-09-13|work=www.cricketarchive.com] - March 05 1984

List A Matches

* Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe - December 15 1983

=Youth Cricket World Cup Matches=

* Kenya Under-19s v Pakistan Under-19s - January 12 2000
* Ireland Under-19s v Netherlands Under-19s - January 19 2000
* USA Under-19s v Ireland Under-19s - January 21 2000
* USA Under-19s v Netherlands Under-19s - January 23 2000

Other Matches

* Up-Country XI v Lord Hawke's XI - November 18 1892
* Dimbula and Dikoya v New South Wales - January 15 1914
* Up-Country XI v Marylebone Cricket Club - February 13 1962
* Dimbula Cricket Association President's XI v Madras - April 2 1966
* Dimbula Cricket Association President's XI v State Bank of India - August 10 1966
* Dimbula Cricket Association President's XI v Hyderabad Blues - April 5 1967
* Dimbula Cricket Association President's XI v Hong Kong - March 27 1971
* Nuwara Eliya District v Gloucestershire - April 5 1987
* Janashakthi Group v Marylebone Cricket Club - March 1 2001

ee Also

* Rangiri Dumbulla Stadium

References

External links

* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/search2.cgi CricketArchive]
* [http://www.imagesofceylon.com/ioc-people23.htm Images of Ceylon]