Pierre Werner Cricket Ground Explained

Ground Name:Pierre Werner Cricket Ground
Nickname:Walferdange Cricket Ground
Location:rue de l'Alzette, Walferdange, Luxembourg[1]
Establishment:1991
Owner:Optimists Cricket Club
Operator:Optimists Cricket Club
Surface:Artificial matting on concrete
Former Names:Walferdange Cricket Ground
Tenants:Optimists Cricket Club
Luxembourg national team
Seating Capacity:1000
End1:Bridge End
End2:Pavilion End
International:true
Firstt20idate:28 August
Firstt20iyear:2020
Firstt20ihome:Luxembourg
Firstt20iaway:Czech Republic
Lastt20idate:25 June
Lastt20iyear:2023
Lastt20ihome:Luxembourg
Lastt20iaway:Switzerland
Date:25 June 2023
Source:https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/1226630.html Cricinfo

The Pierre Werner Cricket Ground, also known as the Walferdange Cricket Ground, is a cricket ground in Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. It is the premier cricket venue in Luxembourg, being the home ground of the country's top club, the Optimists Cricket Club, which plays in the Belgian Cricket League, and of the Luxembourg national team.

The ground was opened in 1991.[2] In 2002 the ground was given its present name to commemorate Pierre Werner (1913–2002), formerly Prime Minister of Luxembourg and honorary president of Optimists Cricket Club.[3] The ground was established on land donated by the Walferdange commune, adjacent to the Alzette river.[1]

The ground has hosted matches between the Luxembourg national team and various other teams, including the Belgium national team and the MCC.[4] The heavy use of the ground is illustrated by the programme in 2003, when it "was in use almost every day between mid-April and early October". That year two internationals against France and one against Belgium were played on the ground (though one of the games against France was rained off).[5] A six-a-side tournament was hosted in 2007.

The ground is the only outdoor venue regularly used for cricket in Luxembourg, with the only other venue being Robert Schuman Oval, located over the French border in Évrange.[6] The ground's pitch is artificial matting on concrete.[6]

The ground hosts a one-week junior training academy each July. In 2010 this was attended by forty boys and girls of all ages, who were coached by a Level 3 coach from the UK and benefited from the ground's "excellent facilities".[7]

In August 2020, the ground was selected to host the 2020 Luxembourg T20I Trophy, a tri-series between Luxembourg, Belgium and the Czech Republic.[8]

List of International Centuries

Twenty20 Internationals

This is the list of centuries scored at the ground in Twenty20 Internationals.[9]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.optimists.cc/location/default.aspx Location
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110626144407/http://www.cricketeurope2.net/docs/ECC/BROCHURES/2011Division2.pdf ICC European Championship, 2011, Division 2 brochure, p12
  3. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 2003 edition, p 1569.
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/111/5555_misc.html Other matches played on Pierre Werner Cricket Ground, Walferdange
  5. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 2004 edition, p 1440.
  6. http://www.cricket.lu/grounds.html Grounds
  7. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 2011 edition, p 1185.
  8. Web site: Luxembourg set to host official international cricket for the first time . International Cricket Council . 26 August 2020.
  9. Web site: Centuries - Twenty20 Internationals. ESPN Cricinfo. 30 August 2020.