Nevill Ground facts for kids
The pavilion of the Nevill Ground
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| Ground information | |||||||
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| Location | Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent | ||||||
| Coordinates | 51°07′19″N 0°16′05″E / 51.122°N 0.268°E | ||||||
| Establishment | 1898 | ||||||
| Capacity | 6,000 | ||||||
| Owner | Tunbridge Wells Borough Council | ||||||
| Architect | CH Strange | ||||||
| Tenants | Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club Tunbridge Wells Tennis Club Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club |
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| End names | |||||||
| Pavilion End Railway End |
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| International information | |||||||
| Only ODI | 18 June 1983: India v  Zimbabwe |
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| Only WODI | 24 July 1993: Australia v  West Indies |
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| Team information | |||||||
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| As of 5 September 2020 Source: CricInfo |
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The Nevill Ground is a famous cricket field in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It is owned by the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. During the summer, the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club uses it. In winter, the Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club plays there.
The ground first opened in 1898. Kent County Cricket Club started playing there in 1901. For many years, Kent held a special "Cricket Week" at the ground. This continued even after a fire destroyed the main building in 1913.
Besides hosting many of Kent's important matches, the Nevill Ground also held a big international game. It was used for one One Day International during the 1983 Cricket World Cup. It also hosted a match in the 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup.
People often say the Nevill Ground is one of England's most beautiful cricket fields. It is especially known for the bright rhododendron bushes around its edges. The ground is about 1 mile (1.6 km) south-east of Tunbridge Wells town centre.
Contents
The Nevill Ground's Story
The land for the ground was bought in 1895. Two local clubs, the Tunbridge Wells Cricket, Football and Athletic Club and the Bluemantle's Cricket Club, leased it for 99 years. The land was part of the Eridge Park estate, owned by William Nevill, 1st Marquess of Abergavenny.
Building work began in 1896. The Marquess officially opened the ground in 1898. It was named after him, the Nevill Ground.
The first cricket pavilion was built in 1903. It cost £1,200 and was designed by CH Strange. Sadly, this building was destroyed by fire in April 1913. Many believe the fire was started by women who were campaigning for the right to vote.
During the First World War, the British army used the ground. They grazed cavalry horses there, which damaged the playing field. In the Second World War, soldiers stayed at the ground. In 1946, the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council took over ownership of the ground.
The Nevill Ground is famous for its beautiful surroundings. Cricket experts often call it "one of the finest cricket grounds in England." The colourful rhododendron bushes are a key part of its charm.
In 1995, a new brick stand was built. It was named the Bluemantle Stand. This name honoured the Bluemantle's Cricket Club, which had a pavilion on the site after the 1913 fire. Sometimes, temporary stands are put up for big cricket events.
The 1913 Pavilion Fire
On April 11, 1913, the original pavilion burned down. It is widely believed that women fighting for voting rights caused the fire. A lamplighter discovered the fire, but it was too late to save the building. Firefighters found papers about women's voting rights and a photo of Emmeline Pankhurst at the scene.
This fire was part of a larger campaign across the country. Women were protesting because a bill that would have given them the right to vote was withdrawn. The fire destroyed important old records, including some from the Bluemantle's Cricket Club.
There was a lot of anger about the fire. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, was a member of the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club. He spoke out against the actions. A new pavilion was quickly built using the original plans. It was finished in just nine weeks, ready for the Cricket Week in July 1913.
How the Nevill Ground is Used
The Nevill Ground is regularly used by the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club. They play in the Kent Cricket League. Kent County Cricket Club also uses the ground for some matches each year. Their Second XI team plays there sometimes too.
In the winter, the Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club uses the ground for hockey. In the past, it was used for association football, cycle racing, athletics, and archery. It is also home to a running club, Tunbridge Wells Harriers.
Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week History
Kent County Cricket Club used the Nevill Ground as one of its special "outgrounds." These are grounds away from their main stadium. The Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival started in 1902. For many years, two important matches were played there annually.
The Nevill Ground was very popular with Kent's players. They loved its beautiful surroundings. Cricket historian EW Swanton called it "no mean contender for the most delectable English cricket ground."
In 2012, a match had to be moved because the ground flooded after heavy rain. The 2016 T20 match was the last one-day game Kent played there. New rules from the ECB made it hard to hold shorter matches at Tunbridge Wells.
In 2017, there were worries about how the ground was being looked after. The pitch had been left uncovered and flooded. Kent's own staff had to help get the ground ready for the game. The ground was used in 2018 and 2019. However, Kent County Cricket Club has not played there since. The facilities no longer meet the required standards. Kent says it "remains open to a return to the Nevill Ground in future."
The 1983 Cricket World Cup Match
The Nevill Ground was one of the places chosen for the 1983 Cricket World Cup. It hosted a group match between India and Zimbabwe on June 18, 1983.
In that game, Kapil Dev from India scored an amazing 175 runs without being out. India had started very badly, with only 17 runs for 5 wickets. Kapil Dev's incredible effort helped India win by 31 runs. India then went on to win the whole tournament, their first World Cup title!
Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani set a world record. Their partnership of 126 runs was the highest for the ninth wicket in a One Day International match. This game is very special to Indian cricket fans. Many believe it changed how cricket was played in India. Famous players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid say India's win inspired them.
There was no official TV recording of this match. BBC cameramen were on strike that day. The Nevill Ground was thought to be too small, and India and Zimbabwe were not seen as important enough for a camera crew. However, there were stories that an Indian fan filmed the game with a camcorder. Kapil Dev supposedly bought the tape later.
In 2008, Kapil Dev came back to the Nevill Ground. He filmed a news story to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the match. In 2019, the ground was used to film parts of the Bollywood movie 83, which tells the story of that World Cup win.
The 1993 Women's World Cup Match
The Nevill Ground also hosted a match during the 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup. Australia played against the West Indies. Australia won the game by eight wickets.
Nevill Ground Cricket Records
The Nevill Ground has hosted 189 important "first-class" cricket matches. All of these featured Kent as the home team. There have also been 27 "List A" matches, including the 1983 World Cup game. Kent has played six "Twenty20" matches here too.
All records were last updated on June 17, 2019.
First-class Cricket Records
- Highest team score: 633 runs for 8 wickets by Kent against Essex in 2015.
- Lowest team score: 25 runs by Worcestershire against Kent in 1960.
- Highest partnership: 323 runs by RWT Key and M van Jaarsveld for Kent against Surrey in 2005.
- Highest individual score: 290 runs by WR Hammond for Gloucestershire against Kent in 1934.
- Best bowling in one innings: 10 wickets for 127 runs by VWC Jupp for Northants against Kent in 1932.
- Best bowling in a match: 16 wickets for 82 runs by AP Freeman for Kent against Northants in 1932.
Kent's score of 633 runs in 2015 was a new record for their highest score at a home ground. The match between Kent and Worcestershire in 1960 finished in less than one day. This was the last first-class match to end so quickly.
List A Cricket Records
- Highest team score: 314 runs for 7 wickets by Sussex against Kent in 1963.
- Lowest team score: 99 runs by Kent against Nottinghamshire in 1996.
- Highest partnership: 170 runs by A Symonds and MJ Walker for Kent against Lancashire in 2004.
- Highest individual score: 175 runs not out by Kapil Dev for India against Zimbabwe in 1983.
- Best bowling: 6 wickets for 49 runs by SR Barwick for Glamorgan against Kent in 1995.
Kapil Dev's 175 not out was a world record for the highest individual score in a One Day International at the time. His partnership with Syed Kirmani was also a world record for the ninth wicket. It stood for 27 years!
Twenty20 Cricket Records
The highest score in the six T20 matches played here was 182 runs for 4 wickets. Kent made this score in 2009 against Hampshire. Daniel Bell-Drummond scored the only century in T20 cricket on this ground. He made 112 runs not out in 2016 against Surrey. He also set a new Kent record for a T20 partnership with Sam Northeast.
See also
In Spanish: Nevill Ground para niños
- List of Kent County Cricket Club grounds
