New Ground, Norwich facts for kids

New Ground was a special place in Norwich, Norfolk, where people played cricket a long time ago. It was one of the early cricket grounds in England. Imagine a big grassy field where teams would gather to play this exciting sport.

The very first game we know about at New Ground happened in 1829. In that match, a team from Norfolk played against a team from Suffolk. This was a friendly game, not one of the really big, official ones.

Cricket's Early Days

Cricket has been played for hundreds of years. In the past, grounds like New Ground were important for local teams. They helped the sport grow and become popular. Players would gather, often without the fancy equipment we see today.

Important Matches Played

New Ground hosted some very important games, called first-class matches. These were big games between top teams. Think of them like major league games today.

• In 1834, a Norfolk team played against a team from Yorkshire.
• Then, in 1836, another first-class match took place there, also against a Yorkshire team.

These matches were a big deal for the people of Norwich and Norfolk. They showed that New Ground was a respected place for cricket.

The Final Game

The last game ever recorded at New Ground was in 1888. This match was between a team called the Gentlemen of Norfolk and the Parsees cricket team. The Parsees were a famous team from India who were touring England that year. It was a special event to have an international team play in Norwich.

After 1888, New Ground was no longer used for cricket matches. It remains a part of cricket history in England.

Find Out More

• New Ground on Cricinfo (a website about cricket)