Lord's: UK's 'best international ground'

Date released: 21 November 2008

Lord's has been voted as the "Best international cricket ground in the UK" in a survey of cricket fans by All Out Cricket (AOC) magazine.

All Out Cricket surveyed thousands of cricket fans The survey, undertaken by Driver Jonas for AOC, gathered fans' opinions on everything from Twenty20 cricket (63% said there is already enough of the shorter format) to smoking in grounds (70% are in favour of a complete ban).

However, it was in the questions about specific grounds were Lord's excelled.

Asked which was the best ground to have hosted a Test in the last five years 45% of those surveyed put Lord's at the top of the list, significantly ahead of Trent Bridge (17%) in second and the third placed Brit Oval (16%).

Lord's also came top of the pile when fans were asked: "Which county ground has the best facilities for spectators?"

More happy customers at Lord's As the home for residents, Middlesex, 'The Home of Cricket' picked up 25% of the vote, again ahead of Nottinghamshire's Trent Bridge (17%) and Surrey's Brit Oval (16%).

Middlesex and Lord's picked up top marks in four of the five ground assesment categories too: Seating; toilets; food & drink and accessibility - though, being based in London, fared less well in the affordability category.

Lord's is 'perfect'

Spectators were also asked what, if any, improvements they would like to see at their home ground. Popular answers amongst Middlesex fans were: "None" and "Lord's is perfect".

Bradshaw: 'Always working to improve Lord's' MCC Secretary and Chief Executive (and AOC columnist), Keith Bradshaw was pleased with the results: "It's always great to see that cricket fans appreciate the effort that goes into making Lord's worthy of it's title as 'The Home of Cricket'.

"Whilst we're pleased to come out on top we'll never take that for granted.

"Test match grounds around the country are always improving, which is great news for the future of English cricket.

"We're always working to improve the experience at Lord's for players, spectators and the media."

The Lord's Masterplan is an ongoing project to improve the ground - the latest project being the installation of floodlights at Lord's for which planning permission is being sought.