The Chelmsford Cricket Ground, also known as the Essex County Ground, is a cricketing venue located in Essex, England. 

This venue has been used as the home turf for Essex County Cricket Club’s first-class matches since 1925. Essex has also played their List-A games at the venue since 1969 having officially adopted the ground as its home stadium two years prior.

This ground mostly has single-tier seating with one double-tier stand and boasts a capacity of 6,500 spectators. A compact cricketing stadium, the pavilion at this venue was built in the 1970s.

The first-ever ODI at this venue took place between India and Australia during the 1983 World Cup. India beat the Aussies by 118 runs en route to their maiden ODI World Cup title.

While there have been plenty of women’s ODIs and T20Is played on this ground, only a handful of men’s ODIs have been held at this venue.

That said, there are quite a few men’s 50-over matches lined up for this stadium in the near future, and with that in mind, here’s a look at the men’s ODI records at this stadium.

Chelmsford Cricket Ground ODI records

Highest total

The highest total made on this ground in ODIs is by India against Australia in the 1983 World Cup. Competing in a 60-over ODI which was the norm back then, India scored 247 before being bundled out by Australia. In reply, the Aussies were skittled out for 185 thanks to an inspired spell of bowling by Roger Binny, who finished with figures of 4/29 as India registered a 118-run win.

Lowest total

The lowest total on this ground was scored by Bangladesh in the 1999 World Cup. Up against New Zealand, Bangladesh was asked to bat first and could manage only 116 before getting all out. New Zealand chased down the target in 33 overs and won the game comfortably with six wickets to spare.  

Highest individual score

No player has ever scored a century in ODIs at this venue. During a 1999 World Cup game between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Chevrons’ Neil Johnson made 76 runs, which is the highest individual score on the ground. His 76 runs are also the most runs by a player on this ground and helped set up a 48-run win for Zimbabwe over South Africa.

Best bowling figures

The bowler with the best bowling figures is former Indian bowler Madan Lal. In the first-ever match on this ground between India and Australia in the 1983 World Cup, Madan Lal took 4/20 and played a crucial role in bundling out the Aussies for 129 and setting up a 118-run for India. Madan Lal’s four wickets are the most wickets any bowler has taken at this venue along with Roger Binny, who also accounted for four scalps on this ground in ODIs. 

Highest partnership

Both pairs of Zimbabwe’s Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin as well as South Africa’s Shaun Pollock and Daryll Cullinan boast the highest partnership in ODIs at this stadium. Both pairs did so by putting on 66 runs together in the 1999 ODI World Cup between these teams. Zimbabwe won the match by 48 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy