7 most picturesque cricket grounds in Southern Hemisphere

Watching a cricket match on certain grounds makes one feel joyous. Certain places have a power to entice, a quality which transcends through satellite television. One need not be there in person, the venue wins one over with its beautiful setting.

Just prettiness though doesn't suffice. Most of the wonderful grounds are more than the sum of their key elements.

The aesthetics are of course important. Like the grass mounds, the stands, the breeze, the atmosphere, if you are allowed to have a beer or, is the stadium good for a lazy afternoon or a pulsating night.

Sometimes, the soft turf on its own has a life, sometimes it comes with the embrace of the neighboring sea or the lush greenery of the esoteric trees.

Does it remain a stadium or it becomes a cauldron? Whether it soothes nerves or injects adrenaline, does it remain idyllic and poetic or becomes gladiatorial and magnetic.

However, what makes certain grounds particularly picturesque and blindingly beautiful?

History peppers some spice and maybe, the ocean sprays some mist. The architect has a say in it, so does the curator. The climate plays its part, so does the local weather.

Each ground is endowed with a soul, it can be a living, breathing entity, playing host to a game of glorious uncertainties. Let's focus on grounds from the Southern Hemisphere (not ranked in any order) and some of the most memorable matches played there.

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#7 Newlands, Cape Town

Newlands overlooked from the Devil's Peak

It is almost a cultural and spiritual sporting experience to view games at Cape Town. The Table Mountain, standing tall and mighty, framing the ground are as majestic as they come.

They are an accurate barometer on the weather front. Whenever the peak of the mountain isn’t visible, the rain is just a gust away. The vineyards and the train line that runs right outside the periphery of Newlands, only adds to the charm of the venue that is almost a rite of passage for players, commentators and spectators alike.

Memorable Match

9th February 2003 | West Indies 278/5 beat South Africa 275/9 (49) by 3 runs

Man of the match: Brian Lara

Lara had a penchant to punish the South Africans in World Cup matches. He played a stroke-filled innings to set up West Indies' closely fought win over the hosts in the opening game of the 2003 edition.

#6 Boland Park, Paarl

A general view of the Boland Park, Paarl

Surrounded by beautiful mountains and trees from the Paarl Mountain Reserve, Boland Park offers lovely grassed embankments for spectators to relax and enjoy a game of cricket.

The unhurried capacity of 10,000, makes it a little gem amidst the more standardized modern venues. You can roam around with a pint of beer, find a spot with an inclination of your liking and come with as many props as you wish.

Interestingly, right here, Wasim Akram became the first bowler to scalp 500 ODI wickets in 2003.

Memorable Match

27th January 1997 | Zimbabwe 236/8 tied with India 236 all out

Man of the match: Eddo Brandes and Robin Singh

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#5 Harare Sports Club, Harare

Australia famously has all its players in the slip cordon once in Harare

Hemmed around by purple flowered jacaranda trees and with a beautiful gabled pavilion, Harare Sports Club is in the heart of the city.

Zimbabwe's premier ground is bordered by the presidential palace on one side, and the prestigious Royal Harare Golf Club on another. It has recently slipped off the radar with not enough International teams touring the country. But, it still retains an old-world charm with its simplicity and gentle baking sunshine throughout the year.

You'll find that it is a little time-traveling ground, currently stationed in the late 90s.

Memorable Match

22nd February 1995 | Zimbabwe 219 all out tied with Pakistan 219 all out (49.5)

Man of the match: Saeed Anwar and Bryan Strang

#4 Queenstown Ground, Queenstown

An Air New Zealand flight takes off from Queenstown with the Remarkables in the background

With the gorgeous 'Remarkables' mountain range as the screensaver-esque backdrop, the venue is as Kiwi as you can hope for. It is also perhaps the only ground in the world where you can watch the match and watch a plane take-off, at a touching distance.

It's only a matter of time before a six hits a low-flying aircraft from the adjacent airport! The rolling, sweeping grass banks, the most consistent feature of cricket bowls in New Zealand, makes visiting Queenstown an enjoyable, leisurely, and unforgettable experience.

Memorable Match

31st December 2006 | Sri Lanka 224/7 (50) lost to New Zealand 228/9 (50) by one wicket

Man of the match: James Franklin

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#3 Basin Reserve, Wellington

The Basin Reserve is a cricketing cathedral dating back to the birth of the game

Until, just a quarter of a century ago, most of the grounds in Oceania used to be like Basin Reserve. Slowly, concretization has crept in. Built on land reclaimed after an earthquake in 1855, it is at the foothills of Mount Cook and surrounded by what is claimed to the world's largest roundabout.

One of the bigger grounds in the country, it is also one of the windiest grounds, with gusts blowing off the bails being an oft-seen occurrence. Whistling winds, the cacophony of the Kiwi traffic and a sporting pitch all make for a different, yet richly rewarding affair.

Memorable Match

30th March 1994 | India 255/5 (50) beat New Zealand 243/9 (50) by 12 runs

Man of the match: Anil Kumble

#2 WACA, Perth

WACA is home to the quickest and bounciest pitch in the world

There's something almost spiritual about watching cricket at the WACA. The crowd is always appreciative, knowledgeable and typically in high spirits proving that you only need a few thousand people to make this ground come alive.

The Swan River flows nearby and Fremantle Doctor, the cooling afternoon sea breeze swishes in casually into the stadium. The manual-operated scoreboard has defied the odds to stand the test of time, but WACA sadly has been relegated to host small events in favor of the new Perth stadium.

Memorable Match

4th February 2001 | Australia 302/5 (50) beat Zimbabwe 301/6 (50) by 1 run

Man of the match: Damien Martyn

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#1 Bellerive Oval, Hobart

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Seagulls fly in, as merrily as they please from River Dervent, which also hosts yachts. Lots of them. You will struggle to find a more deliciously nestled venue for cricket Down Under.

Beauty is subjective, but this under-appreciated venue at the fag end of Australia has an alluring call. Once you have breathed in the scenery, it is hard to forget the home ground of Ricky Ponting and David Boon.

The colder climate in Tasmania, together with a mysterious sea breeze make the Bellerive Oval a ground of peculiar conditions and postcard perfection.

Memorable Match

28th February 2012 | Sri Lanka 320/4 (50) lost to India 321/3 (36.4) by 7 wickets

Man of the match: Virat Kohli

The innings that confirmed the superstar status of Virat Kohli was this blinder in Hobart, again not surprisingly blitzed in a chase, under floodlights.