Grace Ballinger column: The Blaze seamer ranks her favourite grounds


Number 10 marks a turning point in my rankings, I am very fond of all remaining grounds and found them quite difficult to rank.

New Road is an excellent ground, especially well suited to women’s domestic cricket with a slightly smaller capacity to most of the grounds that make their way into into my top 10.

Poor memories of a disappointing T20 cup final in 2023, where my side lost to Southern Vipers (now Hampshire women) in the final after winning every group game. A particularly forgettable day for me, who opened the bowling and conceded 20 off the opening over.

9 – Cooper Associates County Ground (Somerset)

The club and ground alike definitely have a good feel around them. It feels like the people in Somerset love their cricket, the games are well-attended and the teams supported. The changing rooms are also great, with a good viewing balcony to watch the batting innings.

I spent a good week here this summer with England A and thoroughly enjoyed trying all the coffee shops nearby.

That being said, the pitches didn’t have much in it for seam bowling and took spin quite nicely. I think this ground has potential to slide up my rankings in future.

8 – Edgbaston (Warwickshire)

Edgbaston is my former home ground, after growing up in Birmingham and spending around 10 years playing for the club. Fond memories here give it a bit of a bias (albeit most of these memories are in the indoor school as opposed to the ground!)

I always enjoy playing at Edgbaston, and I love bowling there – mainly from the Pavilion End. I feel like it is probably one of my most successful away grounds, I always tend to take wickets here and also often return up the M42 with a win.

Personally, I feel like it has a slightly commercial feel to it, and prefer a more ‘classical’ appearing cricket ground (such as Taunton).

7 – Emirates Old Trafford (Lancashire)

I called Old Trafford my home for the first time this summer, playing for Manchester Super Giants. I really enjoyed my time there, but for some reason, our home form wasn’t great!

I love that Lancashire is a club with history, and Manchester is one of my favourite UK cities.

Pitches are often quite slow, and lower scoring, which I enjoy as a bowler. However, it rains far too often.

6 – County Ground, Hove (Sussex)

This was my final ground of the 18 to tick off, and I did so this summer with an England A ODI vs India A.

It’s a lovely little ground, but I found it quite difficult to bowl there, especially after being tasked with bowling up the hill.

Its high ranking is partly based on the fact I had a fantastic weekend staying in Brighton whilst playing there, starting my mornings with a sea swim before training.

5 – Lord’s (Middlesex)

There are a number of reasons to love playing at Lord’s.

Firstly, of course, is the privilege of playing at a ground with such a rich history. I also love bowling from both ends here, controversially favouring the Pavilion End as a left-arm seamer, and find the outfield is great.

It goes without saying, one of the best things about Lord’s is also the teas.

I also have extremely fond memories of winning The Hundred here in 2025 with the Northern Superchargers – one of the greatest days in my career.

All of my experiences playing at Lord’s are in either T20 cricket or the Hundred, but I feel like the atmosphere there probably best suits red-ball cricket.

4 – Banks Home Riverside (Durham)



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