Cricket Stadiums are the silent watchers of the many historical moments, holding several records, incredible victories, or heartbreaking losses over the years. Cricket Grounds holds a special proposition not only in cricket but in every sport.
Whether it’s the home of cricket, the Lord’s Cricket Ground of England, or Narendra Modi Stadium, which has the largest seating capacity in the world. Every venue owns a special record in terms of most runs, wickets, ducks, most matches, etc., while serving every cricket format, from the shortest T20 to the longest red-ball cricket.
But which stadium has hosted the most ODI matches since its establishment? Well, one giant, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, holds the record of hosting more than 200 ODI matches. There are other grounds as well which became the spectators of hosting most ODI matches.
To kill your curiosity, here are the top 10 stadiums hosting the most ODI cricket matches to this date.
No. | Duration | Ground | Matches |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1984-2024 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 249 |
2 | 1992-2023 | Harare Sports Club | 182 |
3 | 1979-2024 | Sydney Cricket Ground | 161 |
4 | 1971-2024 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 151 |
5 | 1986-2024 | R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo | 151 |
6 | 2006-2023 | Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka | 120 |
7 | 1996-2023 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 90 |
8 | 1975-2022 | Adelaide Oval | 86 |
9 | 1980-2017 | W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth | 80 |
10 | 1976-2023 | Eden Park, Auckland | 79 |
1. Sharjah Cricket Stadium – 250
With the ongoing three-match series between Afghanistan and South Africa in September 2024, Sharjah Cricket Stadium became the first stadium to host more than 250 ODI matches. Established in 1982, Sharjah Cricket Stadium is one of the most dedicated ICC grounds. It is one of the most popular stadiums to host International matches, hosting 198 matches from 1984 and 2003. The stadium holds a 27,000 seating capacity for cricket fans. For years, Afghanistan and Pakistan have used this ground as a home venue for many series. In comparison to other grounds, this stadium has short boundaries making it batter-friendly in the shortest cricket format.
2. Harare Sports Club- 183
Zimbabwe’s Harare Sports Club comes next on the list of stadiums to host 183 most ODI cricket matches. Originally founded in 1900, Harare Sports Club was formerly known as the Salisbury Sports Club until 1982. This stadium has a capacity of 10,000 which can be extended up to 26,000 by using temporary stands. The last ODI match hosted by Harare Sports Club was between Zimbabwe and Ireland in which the Irish man defeated the host by 7 wickets in December 2023.
3. Sydney Cricket Ground -161
Sydney Cricket Ground of Australia is the world’s third stadium to host 161 most ODI matches. It is also one of the most popular grounds with a limited seating capacity of 48,000. Established in 1851, this ground’s pitch initially batters paradise and produced many record-breaking scores. Including Sir Donald Bradman’s best score of an unbeaten 452 for New South Wales in a match against Queensland.
4. R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo – 153
Formerly Known as Khetterama Cricket Stadium, R. Premadasa is the biggest cricket stadium in Sri Lanka. The Stadium has a 35,000 seating capacity for the spectators. Established in 1986, R Premadasa Stadium has hosted 153 ODI games to this date. The last ODI match hosted by this ground was between India and Sri Lanka in August 2024 in which Sri Lanka defeated India by 110 runs. Apart from hosting most ODI matches, R Premadasa is known for the record for the highest inning total of the highest Test total – 952 for 6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in 1997.
5. Melbourne Cricket Ground – 151
Australia’s premier ground Melbourne Cricket Ground is the 11th largest stadium in the world and the second largest in capacity. Opened in 1853, Melbourne Cricket Ground can hold a little bit over 1 Lakh spectators. This stadium has not only hosted the World Cup twice in 1995 and 2015 but also served as the main stadium for the Summer Olympics and Commonwealth Games. So far, this stadium has hosted 151 ODI matches. It also hosts other sports like Rugby, soccer, and squash.
6. Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka -120
Next is Shere Bangla National Stadium which is named after AK Fazlul Haque, Bangladesh’s most respected leader and freedom fighter. Established in 2006, Shere Bangla Stadium is the new home of the Bangladesh Cricket team. The stadium has hosted 120 ODI matches of cricket. It was originally built for football which explains its rectangular shape. One more thing that makes this stadium interesting is its rain drainage system. It has one of the best drainage systems in the sub-continent installing a mesh of PVC pipes before layering it with Rock chips, sand, and then grass.
7. Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo – 90
Queens Sports Club is one of the picturesque stadiums surrounded by tall trees that shade the spectators. Established in 1890, it is located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The stadium has a 13,000 seating capacity which is more than enough. However, this loveliest venue has seen 90 ODI since 1996 hosting its first-ever game.
8. Adelaide Oval – 86
One of the iconic cricket grounds is Adelaide Oval which opened in 1871. Encircled with century-old Moreton Bay Fig Trees and a grassy Northern Mound enhanced the beauty of this venue. The stadium is not only the world’s most beautiful but also the most efficient ground to host rugby, soccer, and other sports. The stadium has 50,000 seating capacity. So far this stadium has hosted 86 ODI games.
9. W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth – 80
Western Australian Cricket Association is the full name of W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth. Another Australian stadium is on the list of hosting the most ODI matches with 80. Opened up in 1890, the stadium has a capacity of 22,000 which can be extended upto 24,500. This stadium’s pitch is one of the quickest and bounciest in the world. It hosted its first ODI in 1980 and the last ODI match was played in 2017. Due to financial struggles, the stadium opted for the big matches after the 2018 BBL and was only allowed to host low-crowded matches.
10. Eden Park, Auckland – 79
Auckland’s famous Eden Park is the last but not the least as this stadium has hosted 79 ODI matches. This stadium was established in 1900 but hosted its first-ever ODI game in 1976. Located in the suburbs of Auckland, the stadium is often referred to as New Zealand’s national stadium. The baseball diamond-shaped stadium has a capacity of 41,000. Other than Cricket the stadium is also home for Rugby and other sports.
So these are our top 10 stadiums that hosted the most ODI matches in the history of cricket.