DAVID 'BUMBLE' LLOYD: My definitive ranking of England's Test grounds from worst to best - which stadium is No 1?

• e-mail

From its traditional havens to the purpose-built out of town grounds, Test cricket has been played in nine venues across the country this century and some, if not all, of them are held in global esteem.

Mail Sport's David Lloyd has played, coached, umpired or commentated at them all and so who better to judge how they compare for the modern cricket fan?

This is a subjective process, of course, and experiences can vary, but if you want someone to rate atmosphere, the feel of a place, its heritage and where to venture after hours for a pint and a curry, who better than our Bumble?

You will all have your own views, so don't hold back. Let us know your rankings below in the comments:

9th: Utilita Bowl, Southampton

Capacity: 25,000 Opened: 2001  

Aesthetically, the ground developed by Rod Bransgrove when he rescued Hampshire at the turn of the century is a picture - the pavilion is state of the art and fits in lovely in the rolling countryside - but atmosphere-wise it's pretty sedate.

It's not easy to get to and not easy to find despite being just off the motorway, tucked in next to one of those out-of-town shopping parks, and getting out is even harder than getting in because there is just one exit road.

Aesthetically, the ground developed by Rod Bransgrove when he rescued Hampshire at the turn of the century is a picture

The Rose Bowl played a crucial role in keeping cricket alive during the 2020 Covid summer

As far as pubs and bars go, you must travel because of its location. Venturing out to Winchester is well worth it, though. It's absolutely gorgeous and home to some fantastic pubs, such as the Wickham Arms.

The Rose Bowl, as it was called when it first went up a quarter of a century ago, has got a decent track record. It hosted the first Twenty20 game between Hampshire and Sussex, the competition's finals day and England's inaugural T20 international against Australia in 2005, not to mention its role in keeping cricket alive in the Covid summer of 2020.

Atmosphere: 4/10

Aesthetics: 9/10

Accessibility: 5/10

Local food and drink: 4/10

History: 6/10

TOTAL: 28/50

8th: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Capacity: 16,000 Opened: 1967  

There's nothing much to write home about here.

It's a small and intimate place developed on the old park and there's only one entrance, meaning that on match days you park your car and get taken up on a golf buggy.

It might seem a bit pot and kettle from someone who has spent so much time in Manchester, but it rains a lot in Cardiff.

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is a small and intimate place developed on the old park

It might seem a bit pot and kettle from someone who has spent so much time in Manchester, but it rains a lot in Cardiff

The ground's stand-out Test match was in 2009 when Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocked out for a dramatic Ashes draw

And as for your after-hours haunts? Such talk will be a dagger to the heart of my Welsh ancestors and my good friends, the former radio commentator Eddie Bevan and ex-England spinner Robert Croft, but a night out in Cardiff city centre is like the Wild West.

It's the most lawless place I've ever been to. If you're venturing down St. Mary's Way, don't forget your suit of armour. You can hire one from the castle, I believe.

Brain's beer is an acquired taste. Had a few during the ground's stand-out Test match of 2009 when Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar blocked out for a dramatic Ashes draw.

One night that week I was one of the many - including Australian cricketers - who were locked into the Walkabout bar for our own safety as it kicked off outside. Luckily, I like a bit of raucous.

Atmosphere: 6/10

Aesthetics: 5/10

Accessibility: 2/10

Local food and drink: 9/10

History: 7/10

TOTAL: 29/50

7th: Riverside, Chester-le-Street

Capacity: 17,000 Opened: 1995

The north east is a fabulous area for sport, but the atmosphere is quite removed from a Newcastle United football match, say, and I don't think they ever get out of third gear in the stands at the Riverside - probably because it's always freezing cold.

But I really do have a soft spot for Durham because of the people involved. It's a really well run club. Lord Botham is fantastic at delegating, and he appears to have delegated himself to president.

One thing that stands out is the welcome you receive. The staff are fabulous. It's such a friendly place. Not that the 2005 Australians thought so when they stayed at Lumley Castle, which provides a stunning backdrop at one end of the ground.

One thing that stands out is the welcome you receive. The staff are fabulous. It's such a friendly place

Lumley Castle provides a stunning backdrop at one end of the ground

What they could do with, however, are some more special moments - like Stuart Broad bowling Australia out on the final evening in 2013

They thought there was a ghost haunting the place. The whole episode frightened poor Shane Watson to death. Got me rather excited, though. I even reached for my busting kit and plasma gun. Unfortunately, I've stayed there loads of times and never seen one.

The development of the ground is impressive and there's more to come in the form of a hotel. What they could do with, however, are some more special moments - like Stuart Broad bowling Australia out on the final evening in 2013 - to create a bit of a legacy.

Atmosphere: 7/10

Aesthetics: 8/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Local food and drink: 4/10

History: 5/10

TOTAL: 31/50

Tied-5th: Lord's, London

Capacity: 31,180 Opened: 1814

The home of cricket. Everybody wants to go there. Everybody wants to play there. What a beautiful ground.

Can you tell there is a 'but' coming, dear reader?

But… my problem is that it still gives off an elitist vibe. Tickets at upwards of £150 a pop are eye-wateringly expensive. So are the food outlets yet they remain well patronised. You've got to have a bob or two for a day out with the family here. 

Naturally, that eases some people out of the equation. It's all very pleasant and orderly: queues winding round the ground at nine o'clock in the morning. 

The home of cricket. Everybody wants to go there. Everybody wants to play there. What a beautiful ground

Aesthetically, it's as good as it gets. The development of Lord's over the years to its current 31,000 capacity has been fabulous, doffing its hat to ancient and modern

You've got to have a bob or two for a day out with the family here

Aesthetically, it's as good as it gets. The development of Lord's over the years to its current 31,000 capacity has been fabulous, doffing its hat to ancient and modern. 

And it's special for me because it's where I made my England debut. I had a bottle of lager at lunch on the first day, so I must have thought I was doing particularly well. Unfortunately, I was out shortly after the resumption.

It's not the tipple of choice, though. The popping of champagne corks and the stewards having to come and remove them from the outfield is all a jolly jape, but it grinds my gears. Imagine what would happen if folk started throwing cans of Tetley's onto the field in Leeds!

At the close of play, if you want to stretch your legs, get yourself up through Regent's Park to Primrose Hill. There's the Engineer, Princess of Wales and Queen's pubs and one particularly nice Italian restaurant called J Pizzeria.

Atmosphere: 5/10

Aesthetics: 10/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Local food and drink: 7/10

History: 10/10

TOTAL: 39/50

Tied-5th: The Oval, London

Capacity: 28,000 Opened: 1845

The noisy neighbours across the capital have a brilliantly developed ground. They're the aristocracy of English cricket. It's not the easiest place to get to, south side of the river, but the public transport network is good and you can meander in from either Vauxhall or the Oval tube stations.

There is always a great atmosphere and it feels like a proper cricket club rather than just a profitable business because of the way they look after their players.

There is always a great atmosphere and it feels like a proper cricket club rather than just a profitable business because of the way they look after their players

It's not the easiest place to get to, south side of the river, but the public transport network is good and you can meander in from either Vauxhall or the Oval tube stations

The noisy neighbours across the capital have a brilliantly developed ground

The world's first cricket ground to stage an international fixture pays homage to its past. You have the Hobbs Gate at one end and the Alec Stewart Gate at the other.

The Oval has fantastic recent history, too. No one present will ever forget the emotion of the 2005 Ashes and Kevin Pietersen's 158 to hold off any chance of an Australian comeback. If I cast my mind further back, I have a picture in my mind of Surrey winning championships under Stuart Surridge.

Behind the Vauxhall end, there is the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, which is where you can watch the drag artists. That place has been going since I went with my Lancashire colleagues after a Gillette Cup final in the 1970s. But if you're after a post-match livener, pop over to the Fentiman Arms.

Atmosphere: 8/10

Aesthetics: 9/10

Accessibility: 6/10

Local food and drink: 7/10

History: 9/10

TOTAL: 39/50

4th: Edgbaston, Birmingham

Capacity: 25,000 Opened: 1885  

This is England's stronghold, a place I refer to as the Bull Ring.

They don't know what day it is in the Eric Hollies stand, but they create a fabulous noise. If you're not in fancy dress or you don't sing, it's pointless going in. A quiet day with a pack lunch, it ain't.

But it's such a generous place. I'm proud to have been involved in the #TurnBlueForBob days over the years, which have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for prostate cancer in memory of my friend Bob Willis.

This is England's stronghold, a place I refer to as the Bull Ring

They don't know what day it is in the Eric Hollies stand, but they create a fabulous noise

Edgbaston was also home to one of my other great performances….not many have sung in front of 25,000

I like the new pavilion. The old one was nice and quaint, and the only time I really disliked going in was when Mike Denness called us in during a Test match against India. I had a double hundred to my name and if he hadn't declared I'd still be in! 

Edgbaston was also home to one of my other great performances….not many have sung in front of 25,000. That's how many came out to hear my version of Sweet Caroline at T20 Finals Day, then some bloke called Neil Diamond took it off me. 

Birmingham has some some cracking pubs by the canal too. Check out the Craven Arms. Or the Wellington, famous for its blackboard of 20 ales. At the Hen & Chickens, you get a good pint and a curry. Young 'uns? Get in the Mailbox for cocktails.

Atmosphere: 10/10

Aesthetics: 7/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Local food and drink: 8/10

History: 8/10

TOTAL: 40/50

3rd: Headingley, Leeds

Capacity: 18,500 Opened: 1890

This truly is one of the greatest grounds in the world.

The Carnegie pavilion is the third pavilion in my time and not much liked by anybody. The players can't see out dressing rooms that have been compared to dungeons, and it's home to the slowest lift in the world. That's when it's working. More often than not, you arrive to be told you can't come in.

It's a ground with Yorkshire written all over it and I wouldn't want it any other way. Headingley is not pleasing on the eye, but it fits in perfectly among the surrounding chimney pots. I am not bothered about how pretty it is. I am there to enjoy myself and if you've got a sense of humour you will.

Headingley truly is one of the greatest grounds in the world

It's a ground with Yorkshire written all over it and I wouldn't want it any other way

Who can forget the amount of Ashes heroics that have taken place here

For theatre, I'd give Headingley 11 out of 10, if I could

A fight can break out at any time on the Western Terrace and I will never forget the commotion when I was England coach back in 1998. A pantomime horse got onto the outfield during the Test win over South Africa and was tackled by some rugby players, who in the club's wisdom had been hired as stewards.

The back end of the horse suffered a dislocated shoulder and they couldn't get him out of the costume. It's the first and only time I've seen a horse stretchered off.

Before play, it reminds me of Monte Carlo on St Michael's Lane, where you can sit outside Ugly Mugs cafe and watch people go by - namely the players, who have to park up down the road. All while bolting down a full English and a pint of tea.

At the end of the road, you're on the 'Otley Run' pub crawl. It's dotted with fish and chips too, and they're all gradely.

And the cricket can be something else: Len Hutton, Herbert Sutcliffe, Fred Trueman, Geoffrey Boycott. Ashes heroics from Ian Botham in 1981 and Ben Stokes in 2019. Even the most recent Ashes Test was a cracker. For theatre, I'd give it 11 out of 10, if I could.

Atmosphere: 9/10

Aesthetics: 6/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Local food and drink: 9/10

History: 10/10

TOTAL: 41/50

2nd: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Capacity: 26,000 Opened: 1857  

The only negative circling this place is the weather, but I blame that on Liverpool because that's where it comes from.

The development of the ground I played at to one which includes two hotels has been terrific. We just don't want Manchester United to move somewhere else, because their supporters fill them for every home game and that provides great income throughout the winter months.

The negative of the changes is that the players are quite isolated on the other side of the ground to the pavilion, where the history of the club is on display. Yes, the changing rooms are great facilities but they're detached from the buzz of the crowd and that to me is a shame.

The development of the ground I played at to one which includes two hotels has been terrific

Jimmy Anderson has now had the pavilion at Old Trafford named after him

Even though the square has been flipped 90 degrees, you can smell the history when you arrive

With its use of a temporary stand it's more a stadium than a cricket ground, but for internationals it's home to a perfect pitch. If you bend your back, you can get the ball through as a quick bowler, you can play your shots and score hundreds if you're a batter, and later on in the game, it'll spin.

Even though the square has been flipped 90 degrees, you can smell the history when you arrive: Jim Laker's 19 wickets versus Australia, Shane Warne's ball of the century to Mike Gatting.

The city is five minutes away on the brilliant service, stopping right outside the ground. If you want local, there's Chorlton. Very bohemian. Teeming with bars and every cuisine you can think of.

Otherwise, head to Manchester and get off at Castlefield. The Britons Protection, the Peveril of the Peak and the Temple of Convenience - a converted WC - will quench that thirst. From there, pop yourself into Chinatown. If anybody says I've been in Long Legs, they're telling lies.

Atmosphere: 7/10

Aesthetics: 8/10

Accessibility: 9/10

Local food and drink: 9/10

History: 9/10

TOTAL: 42/50

1st: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Capacity: 17,500 Opened: 1841

The prettiest ground in the country. Small and intimate. Very welcoming. You always feel that the crowd are right there with you on the field and you can get an interesting pitch served up.

You never really know what you're going to get, to be honest, but it'll always do something and it's a venue where something is always happening, whether it be a spate of wickets or a flurry of runs. In fact, when somebody's going, you can't really defend it because it's quite a small playing area.

Spending a day at Trent Bridge, which always attracts a knowledgable crowd, is always a bit of a throwback. You sit and enjoy the contest. It's a bit old school, a bit reserved, perhaps. But it's in keeping with the unspoilt environment.

Everyone will know the Radcliffe Road End from radio commentaries over the years and it now faces the Stuart Broad End (pictured)

Spending a day at Trent Bridge, which always attracts a knowledgable crowd, is always a bit of a throwback

The hanging baskets outside the pavilion give it a club cricket feel. Yet it's been home to some of the great names in the sport's annals: Harold Larwood, Garry Sobers, Richard Hadlee, Clive Rice. Everyone will know the Radcliffe Road end from radio commentaries over the years and it now faces the Stuart Broad end.

You can actually walk to and from Trent Bridge from the city centre, along the canal path, passing a place called Hooters. Seems a very popular stop-off. Never been in myself.

Strolling back into town post-play, you can't go wrong heading to any of the curry houses on Maid Marian Way: Cumin, the Calcutta Club, 4550 Miles from Delhi, Memsaab, Laguna. By the end of the week, I've completed the grand slam of naan. That's five days, five lots of naan: garlic, plain, butter, Peshwari, keema.

The go-to pub? The Lincolnshire Poacher. Or the Dragon, where on week nights you can go and race your Scalextric car.

Atmosphere: 6/10

Aesthetics: 10/10

Accessibility: 9/10

Local food and drink: 9/10

History: 9/10

TOTAL: 43/50