Old Trafford Cricket Ground — Manchester's Test Venue

Old Trafford Cricket Ground — officially Emirates Old Trafford — in Manchester is the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club and one of England's established Test match venues. It has hosted Test cricket since 1884 and is known for its capacity for producing close, competitive matches — and for the rain that Manchester's weather frequently brings to proceedings.

Manchester Rain

Old Trafford has a reputation for rain interruptions that has made it both notorious and beloved. Several Test matches at the ground have been badly affected by Manchester's Atlantic weather systems, and Old Trafford holds the record for the most rain delays in Ashes history. The ground's location in northwest England makes it particularly susceptible, and covering the pitch and outfield quickly is a core operational priority for the ground staff.

The 2019 Renovation

Old Trafford underwent a £50 million renovation completed around 2013, adding the point stand, a new media centre, and a hotel within the ground. The renovation transformed Old Trafford from an ageing ground into one of England's most modern Test venues, with a capacity of approximately 26,000. The ground now regularly hosts international matches, Finals Days in the T20 Blast, and marquee county fixtures.

Famous Matches

• 1956 Ashes Test — Jim Laker took 19/90 across the match, the greatest single bowling performance in Test history
• 2005 Ashes draw at Old Trafford — one of the most tense draws in Ashes history
• 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final — Australia beat South Africa in an extraordinary tied match

Jim Laker's Match

The most famous match in Old Trafford's history is the 1956 Ashes fourth Test, where England off-spinner Jim Laker took 19 wickets for 90 runs — 9/37 in the first innings and 10/53 in the second. This remains the greatest single bowling performance in Test cricket history. The Australians were completely bamboozled by Laker's off-spin on a responsive Old Trafford pitch.