For cricket enthusiasts, a visit to an iconic cricket ground is somewhat of a pilgrimage. Be it for a game or a walking tour, there are plenty of cricketing venues across the globe that are rich with history and stories of sporting legends.

There are an overwhelming amount of grounds to choose from – so we’ve put together our list of seven of the world’s greatest cricket grounds.

1. Trent Bridge, United Kingdom

Commonly used for test, one-day international and county cricket, the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground is located in Nottinghamshire with a crowd capacity of 17,500. The ground was established in 1841,  and is said to have one of the world’s best scoreboards.

2. Newlands Cricket Ground, South Africa

Located in one of South Africa’s three capital cities, Cape Town, the Newlands Cricket Ground is renowned as one of the most beautiful grounds in the world, as it’s overlooked by the iconic Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak. The ground opened in 1888, and has a capacity of 25,000 spectators.

3. Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Australia

Located in Moore Park in Sydney, this iconic cricketing ground seats up to 48,000 people, was established in 1848, and frequently welcomed Sir Don Bradman to its spacious field. It’s one of the most ‘spin-friendly’ cricket grounds in Australia thanks to its sturdy ‘Bulli soil’ direct from Bulli, New South Wales.

4. The Oval, United Kingdom

As the home ground of the Surrey County Cricket Club, The Oval in the district of Kennington in South London is rich with history. It was established in 1845, has a capacity of over 25,000 people, and is colloquially known as the birthplace of the legendary Ashes tournament between England and Australia.

5. Eden Gardens, India

Eden Gardens is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India. Built in 1864, this spacious ground holds up to 68,000 cricket fans at a time, and is often referred to as the home of Indian cricket.

6. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia

Renowned for its annual Boxing Day test match, Victoria’s MCG can hold a whopping 100,000 patrons, and has played host to 160 years of cricketing history. Known by locals as ‘the G’, the stadium is located in Yarra Park near Melbourne’s CBD, and is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere.

7. Lord’s, United Kingdom

The Lord’s Cricket Ground located in St John’s Wood near London has a rich association with the game of cricket; the first match being played here in 1814. It has played host to more than 100 test matches, features a Victorian-era style pavilion, and can hold up to 30,000 spectators. It’s unofficially dubbed ‘the Home of Cricket’, and is owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club.

Enjoy this great game with products from Meulemans Cricket Centre

Meulemans Cricket Centre have you covered with all the cricket equipment you’ll need for your next game. Browse their full range online, or head to their South Perth Store or Joondalup Megastore for further assistance, or to view products in-store.

There’s no doubt cricket is an exciting, fun game to play. It involves adrenaline-inducing ball speeds, plenty of sprinting around the field, and plenty of chances to help your team gain runs on the scoreboard.

However, as with most sports, it’s essential to know how to play the game properly and safely to avoid personal injuries and keep your teammates safe in the process.

Here are four ways to ensure you stay safe during your next cricket game.

Ensure good preparation

Before you hit the field, make sure you’ve trained properly and are warmed up. Both of these activities will help you prevent injuries, and will ensure you’re using techniques that will help limit stress or strain on your muscles in both the game and in the long run. Make sure you also drink plenty of water, and that you’ve eaten enough to sustain yourself and provide energy throughout the game.

Learn some cricket stretches for warming up.

Alter rules for kids or beginners

If you’re playing with children or people who are relatively new to the sport, make suitable adjustments to the rules of the game so they are at less risk of injury (or so the game is a little shorter and more manageable for their ability level). This could include switching out batters more frequently so everyone can have a turn, allowing every player to have a turn bowling, and spacing fielders further away from the batter to encourage safety.

Learn and maintain good technique

By learning the best techniques for the game before you hit the field, you’ll have training in the safest way to complete different cricket skills. For instance, if you learn and maintain good techniques for batting, you’ll be able to limit the risk of injury or strain to your lower back. The same goes for bowling – by consistently practicing good, safe bowling techniques, you’ll be able to protect your shoulders and chest from strain or potential injury.

Discover easy-to-learn cricket techniques.

Always wear the correct equipment

Wearing the correct equipment is the best way to stay safe and prevent potential injury out on the field. This equipment includes:

• A helmet with a faceguard (when keeping wicket, fielding in close, or batting). Adjust your face guard to match the size of the ball – the ball shouldn’t be able to pass between the helmet peak and the face guard.
• Body padding, leg pads, forearm pads, a box, and gloves (when battling).
• Comfortable fitting cricket shoes that provide adequate support.

If you’re unsure about the equipment you’ll need for your next cricket game, consult a professional by stopping in at a local cricket shop.

Play this game best (and safely) with equipment from Meulemans Cricket Centre

Meulemans Cricket Centre have you covered with all the products you’ll need to level up your cricket skills, and stay as safe as possible when out on the field. Browse the full cricket range online, or head to their South Perth Store or Joondalup Megastore for further assistance, or to view products in-store.

It’s no secret cricket is one of the most popular sports in Australia.

Filled with good sportsmanship, incredible physical ability and a range of specialised skills, cricket is clearly an entertaining game for the general public to watch and play in their spare time.

To further prove this, here are five key reasons why cricket is the best sport.

With cricket, you can hit in any direction

Whereas spots like tennis and baseball require players to hit straight with a level of precision and control, cricket allows its batters to hit in any direction. This means you won’t be restrained to a specific way of hitting the ball, and you’ll be given the freedom to act more instinctively when in the batting position.

There’s a version of cricket to suit everyone’s ability and patience level

Older cricket purists can enjoy longer test matches, where as younger cricket fans who don’t dedicate as much time to the game can enjoy watching shorter scratch matches or one-off games.

On the flip side, if you’d rather play cricket, there are amateur options like the popular Aussie tradition of backyard cricket. This game can be altered to suit any skill level and can take as long or as little as the player's desire.

Cricket can be played using any ball

Whether you play with an official, seamed cricket ball or a rolled up piece of paper, cricket is versatile enough to be played with any sort of ball. This means you can get a little creative – a tennis ball, a rolled up napkin, or even a rubber ball are acceptable balls to hit in a game of backyard or social cricket.

This rule doesn’t apply to games like basketball, football or volleyball, as you’ll require a specified ball for each of these sports.

People of all ages and sizes can play cricket

Particularly with amateur varieties like social or backyard cricket, the game doesn’t discriminate against ages, shapes or sizes. People can play cricket well into their 60’s, and as long as you’re willing to give it a go, anybody can play a game. If you don’t have specialised bowling or batting skills, there will always be a place for you out on the field.

Cricket thrives off of good sportsmanship

Though the game relies a lot on individual skills and abilities, the sportsmanship of cricket teams is incredibly commendable. No matter if they’re winning or commiserating, cricket players are known to band together as a team and exhibit good sportsmanship to everyone on the field – including the opposing team.

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Meulemans Cricket Centre have you covered with all the cricket products you’ll need to level up and master your cricket skills – whether on a professional pitch or simply in the backyard. Browse our full range of cricket gear online, or head to South Perth Store or Joondalup Megastore for further assistance, or to view products in-store.

Often one of the most exciting aspects of a sporting match is the rivalry between the two opposing teams. Whether they have a considerable history playing against each other, or their fresh opponents, it’s electrifying to watch world-class athletes come head to head in the sports they are so passionate about. It also provides local fans the chance to feel patriotic and supportive of their home team.

In cricket, there are a number of rivalries throughout history that have garnered attention from sporting pros and fans alike. From The Ashes to the bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan, we’ve put together three of the most iconic and exhilarating cricket rivalries throughout the game’s rich history.

1. The Ashes (England and Australia)

The official ‘Ashes’ came into existence after Australia defeated England in 1882, and The Sporting Times declared that English cricket had died, and “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia”.

Today, the Ashes series is a five-match test cricket series played every two years. England and Australia take turns in hosting, meaning each country hosts the series once every four years. So far, Australia has won 33 Ashes, England has won 32, and there have been six draws. The winner of each series receives an urn, carrying on the tradition of the original “ashes” quote over a century ago.

2. India and Pakistan

The nations of India and Pakistan have tense relations as is – so throwing cricket into the mix makes for an electrifying rivalry to watch play out. The two sides first played cricket in 1952 when the Pakistan team toured India.

In total, the teams have played cricket 199 times over the years. Pakistan has won 86 matches, India has won 70, and there have been 43 draws. Tickets to their matches are in extremely high demand, with more than 800,000 applications for tickets to the teams’ match made during the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Fans of both sides are incredibly passionate, and occasionally, forms of hooliganism have been recorded following defeats or particularly tense matches.

3. Australia and South Africa

This notable rivalry commenced in the 2008/2009 cricket season when South Africa became the first team to beat Australia at home in 16 years. The teams have played 216 matches, and of these, Australia has won 111 times, South Africa has won 81 times, and the remaining have ended in ties or no results.

One of the most iconic matches between these two sides was in 2006 when the match in Johannesburg multiple records. Notably, on this day, Australia broke the record for the highest innings total in an ODI match ever.

Enjoy this great game with products from Meulemans Cricket Centre

Meulemans Cricket Centre have you covered with all the equipment and gear you’ll need for your next match. Browse our full range of cricket gears or head to our South Perth Store or Joondalup Megastore for further assistance or view products in-store.

Cricket is a fun, social game that’s easy to learn. As a result, it’s a popular option for kids or beginners interested in sport.

To play, you’ll need a few key skills that are fun and easy to learn, including hand-eye coordination, throwing and catching, and basic bowling techniques. To help you get started, we’ve put together a few drills that’ll help you learn and master these basic skills in no time.

1. Hand-eye coordination

No matter what position you’re playing in, hand-eye coordination is an essential skill in the game of cricket. For a simple way to improve your hand-eye skills, stand in front of a wall, side-on, and hit a tennis ball with a racket until you lose control of the ball.

Another drill you can try is to bounce your ball on the end of your bat, and bounce it. Continue to tap the ball with your bat; trying to keep the ball in the air for as long as you can. To make it trickier, try and hit the ball on an angle so you need to adjust your body to keep tapping the ball.

2. Throwing and catching

If you’re placed in a fielding position, you’ll need to have sufficient throwing and catching skills. These are easy enough to practice – all you’ll need is a ball and a wall (or, another person to practice with).

To start, throw your ball against the wall and clap your hands before you catch it. To make it more difficult, back further away from the wall, and try catching with just one hand instead of two. If practicing with another person, have them throw the ball back almost instantly to mimic the rebound off a wall.

3. Bowling technique

Fast bowling and spin bowling are the two most common delivery styles in a game of cricket. Though they’re both extremely effective, each technique takes a lot of skill, practice and ability to master. If you’re a beginner bowler, here are a few ways to sharpen your skills.

First, stand and practice bowling towards a wicket. Think about your grip; placing your fore and middle fingers along the vertical seam of the ball. Gently wrap your thumb around the bottom of the ball (also along the seam), so the ball fits comfortably in your hand and can help you bowl with precision and control.

Once you feel confident with your bowl from a standing position, practice your run up. Tweak your speed, angle and length of your approach to find a technique that feels natural and produces accurate results. If you’re hoping to master the fast bowl, you’ll want to practice speeding up at this stage.

CTA – Eager to continue honing your cricket skills?

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As a general rule, all sports require players to abide by a stretching program to effectively warm up, wind down and prevent any muscular injuries during a game. The sport of cricket is no different. Batting, bowling and fielding involve specific muscle groups that can, unfortunately, become strained and stressed during different activities (such as running, catching or hitting) within a cricket game.

However, it can be difficult to understand which stretches will be most effective before and after your game of cricket – especially if you’re a beginner or still learning about the game.

So, we’ve done the hard work for you. Here are three of the most beneficial stretches for warming up before or winding down after a cricket game.

1. Standing high leg bent knee hamstring stretch

Unfortunately, hamstring strains are some of the most common injuries in cricket. They typically occur during explosive or sudden sprints, which are usually a requirement in bowling or fielding a ball.

To perform this stretch, balance one foot onto a high table. Keeping your leg bent, lean your chest into your bent knee and feel the lunge-like stretch into your hamstring. Relax your hands onto your bent knee, and keep your head facing forward.

2. Elbow-out shoulder and rotator stretch

If you’re playing out in the field, you’ll need to focus on stretching the muscles you’ll use for throwing. The same goes for batting, as your upper limbs, including your shoulders and chest, will need to be sufficiently warmed to allow you to make sudden and powerful movements as you hit the ball. Z

To complete this stretch, stand with one hand resting on the middle of your back, with your elbow point outwards. Then, reach your other hand across the front of your body, and gently pull your elbow forward.

3. Lying knee roll-over stretch

Both batting and bowling can place a great deal of stress on your lower back, hips and knees. If you’re playing on the field, your knees may also feel intense strain if you’re having to bend down to make a catch, or constantly bend over to pick up stray balls. Unfortunately, as the game of cricket can be quite repetitive, you may find yourself straining these body parts and muscles more frequently as the game goes on.

For this stretch, you’ll need to lie flat on your back, bend both of your knees, and let them fall to one side. Keep your arms splayed out with your palms facing down, and let your back and hips rotate naturally with your knees. For a more intense stretch, turn your head to the opposite of where your knees land.

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Even though the first cricket games in history took place in the 18^th century, it wasn’t until the 19^th century that cricket helmets were introduced as important safety measures cricketers would use to protect themselves while playing.

The first person to wear a cricket helmet during a game was England cricketer Patsy Hendren. Helmet use and popularity grew exponentially in the 1970’s when popular players including Tony Greig, Sunil Gavaskar and Dennis Amiss began to wear them.

Thanks to modern technology, what began as quite a simplistic design back in the 19^th century has progressed to cutting-edge safety equipment designed specifically for the game of cricket. Nowadays, cricket helmets have the potential to limit your chances of injury or impact. In fact, some helmets have been proven to almost entirely eliminate these risks altogether.

But what exactly is a modern, safe cricket helmet made of? We’ve broken down the five major components of the modern cricket helmet – including its shell, grill, padding, chin strap and neck guard. Read on for more information about what each component is able to provide a helmet’s wearer.

1. The shell

The helmet’s shell is its most essential component. It is essentially the ‘dome’ of the helmet, and contains different raw materials, including fibreglass and carbon steel. The outer shell of the helmet provides a large surface area to reduce impact if hit, and conversely, the inner shell helps to soak up any shock that hits the outer part.

2. The grill

The grill is a net-like section that is attached to the shell, designed to help protect the face from injury. It’s made from materials such as titanium and polycarbonate, and is specially designed so it won’t affect ventilation and visibility – but will guarantee maximum safety and protection.

3. The padding

The padding is a soft cushion material attached to the helmet’s inner part. It’s designed to help absorb shock, and at the same time, ensure the helmet can grip the cricketer’s head better. Much like the helmet itself, the padding can be easily adjusted to fit different head sizes.

4. Chin strap

As its name suggests, the chin strap is used to attach the helmet to the head snugly and firmly. It is also used to help protect the cricketer’s chin.

5. Neck guard

Attached to the back of the cricket helmet, the neck guard is a component intended to protect cricketers’ necks. It was added to most helmets in recent years, after the tragic death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes after he was struck in the neck by a cricket ball.

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Meulemans Cricket Centre have you covered with all the gear and equipment (including modern, state-of-the-art cricket helmets) you’ll need to keep safe the next time you hit the field. Browse their full range online, or head to their South Perth Store or Joondalup Megastore for further assistance, or to view products instore.

If you’re a fan of the game, donning your team’s kit is the best way to show your support. Through the years the Australian ODI team have had some truly excellent uniforms to match some truly spectacular performances. Below, we take a journey back in time to revisit some of the biggest moments from the Australian cricket team and the kits they were wearing at the time. These kits have been immortalised on the world stage because of the legends that wore them and to this day cricket fans across the world know what green and gold means on the cricket field - bring your A game!

The ’90s saw the Australian team rock some of the most classic ODI kits to date with the ‘95-96 kit being one of the standouts. Having a half green and half yellow design with four striking lines, it sports one of the biggest Southern Cross’ of all ODI uniforms to date. This kit has been immortalised because it was worn by Michael Bevan when he famously smashed a four to win the game against the West Indies on the last ball of his career at the SCG in 1996.

The 1999 World Cup was one of the biggest moments in Australian cricketing history with Australia beating Pakistan by eight wickets, paving the way for three straight World Cup wins. To match this legendary moment, the Australian team wore an equally as legendary kit with bright yellow and bold green. They also continued to implore the iconic Southern Cross, a symbol all Aussies know and love because it stands for freedom and loyalty.

Continuing their jaw-dropping winning streak on the world stage, the 2003 Australian team wore one of their most iconic kits to date. This year they hit the right balance between bold green and Australian gold. Again the Southern Cross was a key feature of the kit that was paired with green streaks making the stars look as if they were flying - much like the balls that same off Ricky Ponting’s bat throughout the tournament. Cricket fans will remember him smashing the Indian side to bring the cup home for the Aussies, hitting 140 not out which earned him player of the match.

Three was the magic number for the Australian team in 2007, landing their third straight World Cup win, this time against Sri Lanka which made it their fourth World Cup win all up. The hero of the game was again, the legend himself, Ricky Ponting, who was draped in a mostly-gold kit with a dapper set of green stripes across the centre reading, AUSTRALIA, in the middle. Fans who scored this kit wear it with pride in remembrance of our nation's elite cricketing potential.

The 2015 World Cup was another highlight for the Australian side. Beating out all teams on our home turf to win the tournament never felt so good, or looked so good. The return of the cup to its rightful home also saw the return of the Southern Cross on the jersey, this time coloured in green and swimming in a sea of gold. Lucky fans who snapped up this kit can forever relive the moment the Aussies snatched the cup away from the Kiwi’s - what a game!

Score Your Cricket Australia Merchandise 

Show your support for the Aussies and relive their proudest moments on the world stage with your very own replica Cricket Australia merchandise available at Meulemans today!

Grove Cricket was founded in 2012 and has quickly earnt a reputation for producing exceptional equipment at affordable prices. Meulemans jumped at the opportunity to stock Grove’s equipment because their gear is designed by cricketers that love the game, and is made for cricketers that appreciate high quality and innovative designs.  

Grove’s wide selection of cricket bats are handcrafted in Australia from hand-selected grade one English Willow. One of their top models is the Royale Makers Choice which has been expertly designed to deliver optimal performance at the crease. Sporting a sharp mid-profile, the Royale maintains power through the whole blade. The toe is finished square and the face very slightly convexed with very minimal concaving in the back. Its 18 piece handles are uniquely crafted from the highest quality cane providing subtle flex, ensuring maximum force with unrivalled feel. All Grove bats come with a slightly oval handle and their thickness is marginally thinner than average. This is proven to increase performance and grip. If you want an explosion in your hands, go with Grove. 

Aside from their bats, Grove offers some of the best protective cricket gear available. If you’re looking for a new pair of gloves that are sure to last, then their Exclusive batting gloves are the right choice for you. The Exclusive’s ultra-lightweight, high-density foam promises international level protection. With super flex 37 splits for increased flexibility, its unique design is aimed to hug the shape of your hand and deliver extra comfort. To top it all off, the Exclusive has a premium sheep leather palm, adding grip to make sure you’re in full control of the bat. Meulemans also stocks inners from Grove. Their fingerless batting inners come with a cotton palm and a lycra backing to ensure you can keep smashing sixes for as long as you like.

To match your gloves, be sure to check out Grove’s range of batting pads. A best seller is the Makers Choice batting pads. Their rounded, lightweight, multi-sectioned high-density foam has strengthening cane rods for maximum shin and thigh protection. Boasting a reputation for one of the most comfortable pads on the market, it has a gel pocket in the knee with a Fibretec bolster insert combined with the Grove tri-folding knee protection system. The Makers Choice should be your top pick if you want protection and a tight fit for when you’re on the run. For those who are fed up with being corked in the leg by stray bowls, the grove exclusive thigh pad should also be on the top of your list. 

Wicket keepers will be happy to know that Grove has much of their key protective gear sorted. The Makers Choice wicket-keeping gloves from Grove are as reliable as they come. Their kangaroo leather covering and flexible finger inserts will ensure you can stop anything and will drop nothing. For increased protection, Grove’s Exclusive keeping pads are a sure-fire safe bet. Rounded foam over the knee provides comfortability and protection while their slim, tight fit means that you can strap them on and trust that they will stay firm. 

Once Grove has sorted you with new gear, you’re going to need a place to stash it all that also adequately protects it. For this, Grove has you covered with their range of cricket bags. A favourite is their Supreme wheel bag that is spacious enough to keep your bat, protective gear, balls and shoes protected, with some extra room for whatever you need. 

Those who have chosen to go with Grove have never gone back, shop Meulemans for all Grove’s products today!