County Ground

St James Street,
Taunton, England

Records and statistics

Profile

The County Ground, Taunton, is set right within the town of Taunton itself, minutes from the town centre. The most south-westerly of English first-class grounds, it is a ground that retains much character, despite extensive renovations and improvements. For many years the playing area was circled by a greyhound track, removed in the 1970s. The towers of St. Jame's, St. George's and St. Mary's churches rise behind the pavilion, and the Quantock Hills overlook the other end. The main entrance gates are named after JC White, who plied his trade here from 1909 to 1937. The county established itself here in 1882, although the first Championship match was not played here until 1891. The record attendance was in 1948 when 10,000 packed in to see Don Bradman's Australians. The venue also staged one-day internationals during the 1983 and 1999 World Cups.

It has seen many splendid innings, including two quadruple hundreds (a record shared with Melbourne and Karachi), Archie Maclaren's record of 424 being followed 93 years later by Graeme Hick's 405*. Viv Richards made a stunning 322 in a day for the county against Warwickshire in 1985, and Major RM Poore made 304 here during his remarkable season of 1899 (he made 1399 runs in only 12 innings). When conditions are right, however, bowlers can do well, and Tyler (1895), Trott (1900) and Rushby (1921) all took all 10 wickets here. It was on this ground as well, that Jack Hobbs first equalled, then beat the great WG's record of 126 centuries in 1925.

In 2006 Taunton was unveilled as the official home of English women's cricket.
Martin Williamson

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Notes

Map & Hotels Click here

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Latest Articles

• Somerset announce record profit (Nov 25, 2008)
• Somerset set green light for Taunton development (Jun 15, 2007)
• Home comforts at Taunton (Aug 29, 2006)
• Taunton the new home for women's cricket (Aug 29, 2006)
• Surrey's Gordon named Groundsman of the Year (Oct 13, 2005)

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Latest Photos

Aug 31, 2007

General view of Taunton
© Getty Images

Aug 29, 2006

England and India settle in at Taunton as the ground is launched as the home of women's cricket
© Jenny Thompson

Aug 29, 2006

Taunton have made a real effort to be the home of women's cricket, as the boundary board here shows
© Jenny Thompson

Aug 29, 2006

The honours board of England women captains is unveiled at Taunton
© Jenny Thompson

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