The Ageas Bowl — Hampshire's Modern Test Ground

The Ageas Bowl in West End, Southampton, is the home of Hampshire Cricket and one of England's newest Test match venues. Formerly known as The Rose Bowl when it opened in 2001, the ground received its first Test in 2011 and has since hosted several major international fixtures including a World Cup semi-final. The Ageas Bowl is notable for its modern facilities and the on-site Hilton hotel that overlooks the playing field.

Modern Purpose-Built Facilities

Unlike most English Test grounds that evolved over more than a century, The Ageas Bowl was purpose-built for cricket at the turn of the millennium. The ground features a modern drainage system that allows play to resume rapidly after rain — an important advantage given England's weather. The capacity stands at approximately 25,000, with the Hilton hotel forming one of the most distinctive backdrops of any cricket ground in England.

COVID Bubble Cricket — 2020

The Ageas Bowl played a historic role during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, England hosted the West Indies, Pakistan, and Australia for the entire summer, using The Ageas Bowl (alongside Old Trafford) as a bio-secure bubble venue. With its on-site hotel allowing teams to self-isolate entirely within the ground complex, The Ageas Bowl was perfectly suited to COVID bubble cricket and successfully hosted three full international series.

2019 World Cup Semi-Final

The Ageas Bowl hosted the first semi-final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup — India vs New Zealand. The match was abandoned due to rain on the scheduled day and completed the following day, with New Zealand edging India by 18 runs in a tight, low-scoring contest. The semi-final put The Ageas Bowl on the global cricket map as a viable major event venue.