Built in 1896, New Road End has been home to Worcestershire County Cricket Club since the club moved from Broughton Park in 1899.
New Road has played host to three men’s one-day internationals and nine women’s Test matches.
The first men’s ODI took place in the 1983 World Cup, when Gordon Greenidge scored 105, the only ever men’s international century at the ground, to help the West Indies beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets.
The others took place in the 1999 World Cup and saw Australia beat Scotland by six wickets, and Sri Lanka’s four-wicket win over Zimbabwe.
New Road has been the home ground of England players such as Graeme Hick, Tom Graveney and Basil D’Oliveira.
Worcestershire’s ground is well-known for two reasons.
It is located in stunning surroundings, with Worcester Cathedral appearing through the trees which circle the ground. It sits on the bank of the River Severn and River Teme.
The beauty of this ground has attracted cricket fans for over 120 years.
Its proximity to the rivers have historically, however, left the county dealing with regular flooding.
In the summer of 2007 more than half of Worcestershire’s home matches were lost as the outfield was submerged.
The beauty of the ground’s setting has meant that the board of directors have never been keen, instead choosing to invest in improving its resilience against floodwater.
In 2014, having had eight floods in an 18-month period, the club spent between £7million and £8million making the ground more flood-resistant.
Worcestershire has been home to the D’Oliveira family since Basil D’Oliveira emigrated from South Africa in 1960, making his first-class debut for Worcestershire in 1964.
D’Oliveira became a household name due to the controversy surrounding his selection for a tour to South Africa during the apartheid regime, in 1968.
D’Oliveira went on to play in 44 Test matches for England as well as four ODIs.
Both D’Oliveira’s son and grandson have gone on to play for Worcestershire.
Flooding is commonplace at Worcester
New Road hosted a decisive game in the second Women’s 2005 Ashes Test, when England beat Australia by six wickets.
Winning the toss, England chose to field after rain had washed out parts of the first day.
By the end of play, Australia had fallen to 126 for 7, and it only took a further 33 deliveries for the tourists to be all out for 131 the next morning.
Fast bowler, Katherine Brunt scored her first Test fifty in the first innings, as well as taking match figures of 9 for 111.
Brunt’s performance led to England achieving their first Test victory over Australia since December 1984, as well as securing their first Ashes series win since 1963.
Address: 13 New Rd, Worcester WR2 4RL
Train: Mainline station Worcester Foregate Street. This station is just an 11-minute walk across the river to the ground.
Leave the station and walk south on Foregate Street towards Shaw Street. Turn right onto Angel Street before turning left onto Angel Place. Next, turn right onto Broad Street before turning right onto Deansway (A44). Continuing on this road for less than half a mile, the ground is on the left.
Car: Tybridge Street Car Park is the ground’s car park, however the ground is only a five-minute walk from the town centre.
Newport Street and Copenhagen Street are the next nearest to the ground, only eight and 11-minute walks away respectively.
Bus: Once you are in Worcester city centre’s bus station that is beneath the Crown Gate Shopping Centre, walk out of the station, turn left, continue to walk straight ahead to a pedestrian crossing, walk across this and another pedestrian crossing, continue across the bridge over the Severn River and you will arrive at the county ground on your left.
Old Rectifying House
The Closest of these five to the ground, The Old Rectifying House is a stylish venue with a modern fine-dining menu and an easygoing bar, plus a terrace garden
Ostler’s At Number 1
Ostler’s At Number 1 is an easygoing, light-filled corner spot offering seasonal British fare plus wine & a few outdoor tables
Bolero Bar
Bolero Bar offers a refined all-day venue for coffee and international lunch and dinner menus plus a lively evening bar
Olive Branch
The Olive Branch is a relaxed, 3-floor Mediterranean place offering tapas, meze platters & entrees, plus courtyard dining
Be the Change Foods
For a Vegan alternative, Be The change Foods offers plant-based burgers, smoothie bowls & shakes offered in a laid-back cafe with functional decor
New Road is the only county ground where the great floods of the past are proudly recorded on a chart at the back of a stand!
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