South Australia’s 25 most picturesque cricket grounds
Adelaide Oval is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world but South Australia is littered with other picturesque venues. Here’s our A to Z list of 25 of the best.
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Adelaide Oval stands like a beacon above the rest.
The historic, remodelled ground is not only the flagship of South Australian cricket but one of the most spectacular sporting venues in the world.
Opened in 1871 and hosting its first Test match between Australia and England in 1884, the Oval underwent a major transformation in the 2010s to become the home ground of the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs.
But while new stands were built, the famous old scoreboard and hill area were retained and remain an eye-catching sight.
“I always say Adelaide Oval is the best ground I ever played at,’’ said SA cricket legend and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
“It’s absolutely magnificent. It’s a beautiful ground, the facilities are fantastic and it has great history.’’
While Adelaide Oval is the undisputed king for SA cricket, there are a host of other picturesque grounds across the state.
Some are well known and host international, first-class and SACA Premier Cricket matches but others are hidden among forests or vines in country and rural areas where only the locals truly appreciate their beauty and value.
Then there are those that have the hills, ocean or river as stunning backdrops.
The Advertiser, in consultation with passionate local cricket identities Anthony Tucker, Peter Argent and Lawrie Colliver, has identified 25 of SA’s most picturesque sporting gems.
Colleges, which boast some outstanding cricket venues, particularly Prince Alfred and St Peters, and SANFL grounds have not been considered.
The list is in alphabetical order.
ARTHURTON MEMORIAL OVAL
Tucked away in the centre of Yorke Peninsula, Arthurton Memorial Oval serves as a tribute to those who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved.
Guests are greeted by a wrought iron arch gate as they enter the oval.
Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the oval – the spiritual home of Yorke Peninsula cricket – is surrounded by a classic white picket fence, while the cricket pitch and outfield turf are in pristine condition.
ASHBOURNE OVAL
Home of the Ashbourne Bulls, the oval – situated halfway between Meadows and Goolwa – offers superb grounds and turf wicket playing surfaces that are regarded as being among the best in the Greater Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Murraylands regions.
It has the quaint feel of an English village.
Ashbourne Cricket Club, established in 1895, is the longest continuous running club in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges.
The soil, which formed the Adelaide Oval pitches, was initially sourced from Ashbourne due to the high suitability of the black clay soils found in the area.
BASKET RANGE OVAL
The small Adelaide Hills town is located on a north-south ridge that runs from Deep Creek to Greenhill Rd.
The area is completely encircled by hills, giving the town the appearance of nestling within a large basket, hence the name “Basket Range”.
Basket Range Cricket Club was formed in 1892 and its oval spectacularly overlooks the wide sweeping hills views of the area.
CAMPBELLTOWN MEMORIAL OVAL
Home of the East Torrens Cricket Club, the ground has recently been transformed into one of SACA Premier Cricket’s leading venues, hosting national Second XI matches and under-age carnivals.
Funding from Campbelltown Council and the federal government resulted in the facility being redeveloped at a cost of more than $10m.
The redevelopment included a two-storey multi-use building, community function rooms, new practice nets, the realignment of the cricket pitch, landscape improvements and playground facilities, while the hills act as a stunning backdrop.
CENTENARY OVAL, PORT LINCOLN
The jewel in the crown of ovals on the Eyre Peninsula, Port Lincoln’s Centenary Oval has hosted AFL pre-season matches and training sessions and has a ground capacity of 7500.
The main grandstand was opened in 2013.
With stunning backdrops of the ocean, the ground is close to Port Lincoln Junior Primary School.
Four cameras installed on the front of the grandstand are used as training tools for clubs.
CENTENNIAL PARK OVAL, NURIOOTPA
Officially opened during four days of centenary celebrations in November, 1936, the home of the Nuriootpa Tigers’ cricket and football teams has gone from strength to strength.
The ground, which features a main grandstand and pavilion, hosted a pre-season AFL game in 2003 between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs in front of more than 5000 fans.
It also hosted a WBBL game in 2019 between the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars, which the Strikers won convincingly by 57 runs thanks to a sparkling 77 from Sophie Devine.
CHATEAU TANUNDA
Renowned as one of the most picturesque regional cricket ovals in the world, the ground’s history is short but sweet.
It is the brainchild of proprietor and cricket tragic John Geber, who in 2000 turned what was more than 6000 tonnes of crumbled cement from wine fermenting vats from the back of the Chateau to build up the mound on which the cricket oval was engineered.
It has since attracted some of the biggest names in world cricket, from 2004-09 hosting the Annual Cricket Masters match, which became a tourist hit and lured players such as Sir Ian Botham, David Gower, Darren Lehmann, Mike Gatting, Kepler Wessels, Carl Hooper, Ian Healy, Greg Matthews and Arjuna Ranutanga.
FINNISS OVAL
Finniss Cricket Club has risen from the ashes.
Founded in 1920, the club had a 12-year recession before being revived in 2007.
The Frillnecks’ ground, located between Strathalbyn and Goolwa, has been restored to its former glory, with an elegant picket fence at the front of the pavilion shed and corrugated sight screens at each end.
In 2017-18, Geoff Lynn and his granddaughter Brooke broke new ground with the pair becoming the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association’s first grandfather-granddaughter combination when they played for Finniss’s D Grade team.
GOODWOOD OVAL
Boosted by the opening of a new $3.6m grandstand and clubhouse, Goodwood now stands among the best suburban facilities in the state.
Home to the Goodwood Cricket Club, which competes in the Adelaide Turf competition, and Goodwood Saints Football Club, and acting as a key local sporting hub, the oval is set in an attractive spot with mature native trees and a popular playground.
There have been many separate tree plantings during the years to commemorate soldiers who served in the two world wars.
HAWTHORNDENE OVAL
The scenic oval in Adelaide’s foothills is the home of the Coromandel Valley Ramblers, who play in the Adelaide and Suburban Cricket Association.
The club’s history dates back to 1926 and is filled with stories about balls being lost in the dandelions or creek.
A new multi-function community facility, built under the trees and overlooking the oval complete with a viewing deck, is being built at the ground, adding to its appeal.
KAREN ROLTON OVAL
Named after former South Australian and Australian cricket star Karen Rolton, the Park 25 Adelaide Parklands ground was redeveloped in 2018 to become SACA’s No. 1 venue behind Adelaide Oval.
Located opposite the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the upgraded complex includes a three-level pavilion featuring six changerooms, function room and tiered seating.
The playing surface is magnificent while lights allow for night matches.
The venue has hosted Sheffield Shield, men’s One-Day Cup, Australian women’s international, WBBL and WNCL matches.
Adding to the complex’s allure are three high quality ovals behind the grandstand, allowing for under-age national carnivals to be hosted at the venue.
KENSINGTON OVAL
Lined by gum trees, the beautiful oval has a storeyed sporting history dating back to when it was opened as Shipsters Paddock in 1875.
It has been home to Kensington Cricket Club and the Norwood and West Adelaide football clubs and in 1934 was where a young Don Bradman chose to play his SA cricket, for Kensington, after moving from NSW for a stockbroking job.
In 1963 the ground was converted to an athletics stadium, renamed Olympic Sports Field, and became home to Adelaide City soccer club, which hosted a record crowd of 13,132 for a game against Marconi in 1977.
Soccer stars such as George Best and Bobby Charlton graced the ground when Manchester United played the SA state team in 1967.
When Adelaide’s new premier athletics venue, Santos Stadium, was opened in 1998, the Kensington athletics track was ripped up and the ground returned to its former glory and is now used by Pembroke school.
Kensington Cricket Club, now based at Kensington Gardens Reserve, played a centenary match there in 2020.
LANGHORNE CREEK MEMORIAL PARK
Set in the magnificent wine region of Langhorne Creek – a 10-minute drive east of Strathalbyn – it is a pretty, boutique oval which houses the Langhorne Creek Tigers.
Established in 1889, they compete in the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association, with the oval sitting among vineyards sprawling in all directions.
One end is named after legendary local bowler Len Potts, who in 1951 took five wickets against an SA State XI at the end of the SACA Country Carnival.
The other end is named after star local batter Noel Craig.
Norwood Football Club premiership player and coach Ben Warren has been a long-term player for Langhorne Creek, as well as serving on the committee.
SACA Premier Cricket matches have been played at the ground.
LONG PLAINS OVAL
Off the beaten track, Long Plains Cricket Club is hidden away in the Adelaide Plains in the shadow of a six-storey water tower.
Tucked away between the wheat paddocks of the plains, the ground is striking, appearing out of nowhere like an oasis of green. An electronic scoreboard was erected in 2013.
Long Plains Cricket Club shares the facility with United Football Club and Long Plains netball, tennis and basketball clubs, with the ground serving as a hub for the local farming community.
MARIST PARK, MOUNT GAMBIER
Home of the North Sportsmens Cricket Club in Mount Gambier, the ground famously sits on the crater of a volcano.
Surrounded by trees and sporting lush turf, it gives spectators a spectacular view because of their elevated position.
In the 1990s an English tabloid – in the middle of a very cold winter – ran a photograph of the venue when a touring team played at the ground, saying ‘while we’re trying to keep warm, this is where the England cricketers are playing’.
Mount Gambier is blessed with several lush green sports grounds, with Frew Park – surrounded by an attractive picket fence – joining Marist Park in hosting the Australian Country Cricket Championships in 2016-17.
MELROSE MEMORIAL OVAL
Located in the Southern Flinders Ranges, what makes Melrose Memorial Oval so special is its backdrop.
The Mount Remarkable National Park – and 960-metre high Mount Remarkable Summit – provide incredible viewing while there is diverse wildlife in the area.
The ground is the home of the Wilmington-Melrose Cricket Club.
MEMORIAL OVAL, PORT PIRIE
The regional oval and sports precinct at Port Pirie has been redeveloped at a cost of more than $20m to raise the profile of local sport and attract top-level sport to the area.
A new function centre was built alongside the historic grandstand on the main oval while the ground has been resurfaced, new lights installed, seats from Football Park put on the new terrace and a white picket fence fitted similar to the one at Adelaide Oval.
With a ground capacity of 7500, the renovated facility hosted an AFL pre-season game between Adelaide and Port Adelaide in 2019.
MYLOR OVAL
The charming, picturesque oval is considered the centrepiece of the Mylor township in the Adelaide Hills.
The sound of ball on willow is said to echo through the valley on this idyllic tree-lined oval.
Mylor Cricket Club, known as the Pipers, was established in 1893 and plays in the Hills Cricket Association.
Beautifully green in summer, the township takes on a glowing tint of orange in autumn.
PARKINSON OVAL
Kensington District Cricket Club moved from Kensington Oval up the road to Parkinson Oval in 1963.
Parkinson Oval, surrounded by trees and parks, sits in the middle of three cricket ovals that the Browns lease, along with Ford Oval and Col Waite Oval at the Kensington Gardens Reserve.
The well constructed complex, which features clubrooms and a pavilion on the western side, in beautiful surroundings is the envy of many SACA Premier Cricket clubs.
The Browns have a rich history.
They are perennial flag contenders who some famous names have played for, including Sir Donald Bradman, Clarrie Grimmett and Neil Dansie.
PORT ELLIOT
An hour south of Adelaide and a few minutes from the beach, Port Elliot is one of SA’s oldest cricket clubs and plays on a lovely ground on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Competing in the Great Southern Cricket Association, the Bloods have a rich history and rivalry with nearby Goolwa.
The first recorded match between the towns was in 1859, with the two clubs celebrating with a special 160th anniversary match in 2019.
A booklet was published containing all the game details between Port Elliott and Goolwa from 1859-2019.
There are many family connections between past and current players.
RICHARDSON PARK
Nestled between vines, trees and paddocks is the home of the Sevenhill Cricket Club in the Clare Valley.
Sevenhill plays in the Stanley Cricket Association and its ground, Richardson Park, is widely regarded by those who have played there or spectated as one of the state’s prettiest cricket grounds.
The club, which had already produced two Test players in Arthur Richardson and Len Bowley, shifted from a nearby homestead to the park in 1949.
SANDY CREEK
The last town passed before reaching the Barossa Valley, Sandy Creek is small but its cricket ground is a giant of the area.
Its feature is a white picket fence that attractively surrounds the ground, which is hidden among trees and boasts a premium turf pitch.
After 12 years in the Barossa and Light Cricket Association, including eight seasons of playing finals, Sandy Creek finally won the A1 premiership in 2020-21.
In February, its under-17s claimed their fourth consecutive flag, coming from fourth at the end of the minor round.
STOCKWELL OVAL
Another pretty country setting, the little-known Stockwell Oval is small but spectacular.
Its primary tenant is the Light Pass Cricket Club, founded in 1934, which competes in the Barossa and Light Cricket Association.
Apart from offering a picturesque setting, where the ground is surrounded by trees, the pitches are high quality, with many local grand finals played on them, along with state junior and Country Cup matches.
STRATHALBYN OVAL
A sporting standout in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Strathalbyn Oval had a new $2.4m facility opened at the ground in 2011, featuring two buildings and allowing for a crowd capacity of about 8000.
Seven years later it hosted an AFL pre-season game between Port Adelaide and Fremantle.
Home to the Strathalbyn Stallions, the upgraded facilities included three new hard-wicket nets and new turf training wickets, as well as an enclosed bowling machine.
Strathalbyn Cricket Club celebrated its 150th year in 2019-20.
UNIVERSITY OVAL
Located just a stone’s throw from Adelaide Oval, University Oval (Park 12) in the Adelaide Parklands is arguably SACA Premier Cricket’s most attractive venue.
With Adelaide Oval on one side and the Adelaide Zoo on the other, it has a carpet-like surface, stately 1910 grandstand on the western wing and electronic scoreboard.
Shared by Adelaide University’s cricket and football teams for more than 100 years, it has views of Adelaide Oval, the River Torrens, city skyline and St Peter’s Cathedral.
The ground’s facilities include three playing fields and three turf and six synthetic practice pitches.
A picket fence between the pavilion and the scoreboard, where each picket honours one of the 180 AUFC/AUCC players who served in World War I, has recently added to the ground’s allure.
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