Daren Sammy Cricket Ground

Daren Sammy Cricket Ground

Description

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, formerly known as the Beausejour Cricket Ground, is a picturesque stadium located near Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. Here's a quick rundown:

• Capacity: Originally built to seat 15,000, it currently holds around 13,000 spectators.
• History: Completed in 2002, it staged its first Test match in 2003 and became the first Caribbean venue with floodlights for day-night games.
• Facilities: Renowned for its modern amenities, it boasts a lush green outfield, well-equipped pavilions, individual team gyms and lounges, and hospitality suites.
• Playing Conditions: Situated in the driest area of Saint Lucia, it offers ideal conditions for cricket matches.
• Records: The pitch is known to be batsman-friendly, with a higher average first innings score in T20 matches.
• Ambiance: Surrounded by the scenic Beausejour Hills, the stadium provides a stunning backdrop for cricketing action.

History

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, formerly known as the Beausejour Cricket Ground, has a rich history:

• Construction and Early Days (2002): Built near Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, the stadium was completed in 2002 and named after the Beausejour hills.

• Hosting Domestic Cricket (2002-present): It quickly became the home ground for the Windward Islands cricket team, hosting their domestic matches.

• International Debut (2003): In 2003, the ground witnessed its first international Test match, featuring Sri Lanka.

• Pioneering Day-Night Game (2003): It etched its name in history by becoming the first venue in the Caribbean to host a day-night cricket match.

• Renaming and Recognition (2016): A pivotal moment came in 2016. Daren Sammy, a Saint Lucian cricketer who captained the West Indies to victory in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, received a huge honor. The stadium was renamed the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in his recognition.

This stadium stands as a testament to Saint Lucia's cricketing passion and Daren Sammy's remarkable achievements.

Records at this stadium

Here's a quick rundown of some interesting records for Tests, ODIs and T20s at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground:

• Tests:

  • Highest Team Score: India (588/8) vs West Indies (2006)
  • Best Bowling Figures: Keshav Maharaj (7/37) for South Africa vs West Indies (2021) - Includes the first ever Test hat-trick at the ground.

• ODIs:

  • Highest Team Total: New Zealand (363/5) vs Canada (2007)
  • Best Bowling Figures: Rashid Khan (7/18) for Afghanistan vs West Indies (2017)

• T20Is:

  • Highest Team Total: Australia (197/7) vs Pakistan (2010)
  • Lowest Team Total: St Lucia Stars (69) vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (CPL 2018) (This applies to domestic T20 matches as well)
  • Most Runs in an Innings: Kieron Pollard (104) for St Lucia Stars vs Barbados Tridents (CPL 2018) (This applies to domestic T20 matches as well)

General Pitch Report of this stadium

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia offers a generally balanced pitch with some interesting variations across formats:

Overall:

• Batsman-friendly: The pitch tends to favor batsmen early on, with good bounce and pace. Average first innings scores are higher than the second innings across formats.
• Spin assistance later: As the match progresses, the pitch can become slower and offer some assistance to spinners, particularly in the latter stages.

Format Specifics:

• T20s: High-scoring ground with small boundaries. Expect big hitting and totals exceeding 150 runs to be common. Pacers can be more effective early while spinners come into play later.
• ODIs: Balanced pitch where good technique and shot selection are rewarded. Scores around 250-300 are typical first innings totals. Both pacers and spinners can be effective throughout the innings.
• Tests: The pitch offers a good contest between bat and ball. While batsmen get a chance to score early, it becomes tougher later on with the pitch assisting spinners. Expect scores to be slightly lower compared to ODIs.

Additional factors:

• Weather conditions in St. Lucia can play a role. Sunny days can favor batsmen further, while cloud cover or moisture can assist swing bowlers early on.
• Team strategies and captaincy decisions regarding winning the toss will also influence the match based on the pitch behavior.