Brian Lara Cricket Academy

Development

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy was commissioned in 2004 by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the state company UDeCOTT to provide a high class sporting venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. With Trinidad and Tobago receiving the Brown Package of matches and the use of the Queens Park Oval as the primary venue, the Brian Lara facility was earmarked to host warm-up matches. To be ready for the Cricket World Cup the facility had to be completed by February 2007 and game ready by March 2007.

Major design and construction problems kept pushing back the completion date as well as increasing the construction cost. Once it became apparent it would not be ready for the World Cup, matches were shifted to the grounds at UWI. The delays and costs have made the complex one of the more controversial infrastructure projects undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago. The initial cost was estimated to be TT$257 million, but with the cost overruns and the increase in prices of materials, in 2009 the estimated costs were TT$700 million and by the time the facility was eventually opened in 2017 the costs had exceeded TT$1billion.

Other sports

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy was meant to be a component of a larger complex situated on 180 acre of farm land in Tarouba, with a cost of TT$1.1 billion. It was designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, a US architectural firm. The complex was proposed to consist of:

• An aquatic centre with Olympic standard pools. This project was eventually moved and completed in Couva at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
• Olympic-sized velodrome, which was also constructed near the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
• Indoor gymnasium.
• School for training of athletes.
• A large car park, new roads and other infrastructure works.

The completed stadium serves as a training facility for cricketers. It has four indoor cricket training pitches with computerised biometric technology to measure an athlete’s performance, including two full-length run-up pitches for fast bowlers. Spectators have an unhindered view from every area of the stadium, including the concessionaires area. It also has areas specifically designed for the print, radio and television media.

The facility may also include a hotel in the future. It has been estimated to cost an additional TT$190 million.

Cricket matches

The first major cricket matches at the ground were several of the matches of the Caribbean Premier League in September 2017, including the final. The first first-class match was held in November 2017: in 2017-18 and 2018–19 the Trinidad and Tobago team played some of its home matches in the Regional Four Day Competition there, and some at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain.

2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup matches

Main article: 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

• Lockie Ferguson (NZ) became the second bowler to bowl four consecutive maiden overs in a T20I match.

Semi-final 1

• Anrich Nortje (SA) took his 50th wicket in T20Is.
• Afghanistan posted their lowest T20I score.
• South Africa qualified for the T20 World Cup final for the first time.

References

References

1. "CPL Venue Preview: Brian Lara Cricket Academy". Cricket West Indies.
2. "Fixtures | cplt20".
3. "Home".
4. "The Brian Lara Cricket Academy | UDeCOTT Website".
5. "Controversial Brian Lara Stadium ...JWALA TO SACHIN: STAY AWAY - TTWhistleBlower.com".
6. "Sport - National Aquatic Centre".
7. "National Cycling Centre | TTCF".
8. "Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba".
9. "First-class matches played on Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba.".
10. "NZ vs PNG: Lockie Ferguson records first instance of four maidens by a bowler in a T20 World Cup history".
11. (2024-06-25). "T20 World Cup results: Afghanistan reach semi-final for first time".
12. "Anrich Nortje Completes 50 Wickets in T20Is, Achieves Feat During SA vs AFG ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Semi-Final".
13. "Stats - South Africa men's maiden World Cup final, Afghanistan's lowest T20I total".
14. "South Africa demolish Afghanistan to enter their maiden men's World Cup final".