Old Trafford (cricket ground)

Emirates Old Trafford

Emirates Old Trafford – August 2014
Ground information
Location	Old Trafford, Greater Manchester England
Establishment	1857
Capacity	Domestic: 19,000 International: 26,000 Concerts: 50,000
Tenants	Lancashire County Cricket Club England cricket team
End names
James Anderson End Brian Statham End
International information
First Test	10–12 July 1884:  England v  Australia
Last Test	4–8 August 2017:  England v  South Africa
First ODI	24 August 1972:  England v  Australia
Last ODI	19 September 2017:  England v  West Indies
First T20I	13 June 2008:  England v  New Zealand
Last T20I	07 September 2016:  England v  Pakistan
Team information
Manchester Cricket Club (1857 – 1865) Lancashire (1865 – present)
As of 25 July 2016 Source: ESPNcricinfo

Old Trafford, known for sponsorship reasons as Emirates Old Trafford, is a cricket ground in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. It opened in 1857 as the home of Manchester Cricket Club and has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.

Old Trafford is England's second oldest Test venue and one of the most renowned. It was the venue for the first ever Ashes Test to be held in England in July 1884 and has hosted two Cricket World Cup semi-finals. In 1956, the first 10-wicket haul in a single innings was achieved by England bowler Jim Laker who achieved bowling figures of 19 wickets for 90 runs – a bowling record which is unmatched in Test and first-class cricket. In the 1993 Ashes Test at Old Trafford, leg-spinner Shane Warne bowled Mike Gatting with the Ball of the Century.

Extensive redevelopment of the ground to increase capacity and modernise facilities began in 2009 in an effort to safeguard international cricket at the venue. The pitch at Old Trafford has historically been the quickest in England, but will take spin later in the game.

The site was first used as a cricket ground in 1857, when the Manchester Cricket Club moved onto the meadows of the de Trafford estate. Despite the construction of a large pavilion (for the amateurs – the professionals used a shed at the opposite end of the ground), Old Trafford's first years were rocky: accessible only along a footpath from the railway station, the ground was situated out in the country, and games only attracted small crowds. It was not until the Roses match of 1875 that significant numbers attended a game. When W. G. Grace brought Gloucestershire in 1878, Old Trafford saw 28,000 spectators over three days, and this provoked improvements to access and facilities.