Pierre Werner Cricket Ground
Encyclopedia
The Pierre Werner Cricket Ground, also known as the Walferdange Cricket Ground, is a cricket
ground in Walferdange
, in central Luxembourg
. It is the premier cricket venue in Luxembourg, being the home ground of the country's top club, the Optimists Cricket Club
, which plays in the Belgian Cricket Legaue, and of the Luxembourg national team
.
The ground was opened in 1991. In 2002 the ground was given its present name to commemorate Pierre Werner (1913–2002), formerly Prime Minister of Luxembourg and honorary president of Optimists Cricket Club. The ground was established on land donated by the Walferdange commune
, adjacent to the Alzette
river.
The ground has hosted matches between the Luxembourg national team and various other teams, including the Belgium national team and the MCC
. The heavy use of the ground is illustrated by the programme in 2003, when it "was in use almost every day between mid-April and early October". That year two internationals against France and one against Belgium were played on the ground (though one of the games against France was rained off). A six-a-side tournament was hosted in 2007.
The ground is the only outdoor venue regularly used for cricket in Luxembourg
, with the only other venue being Robert Schuman Oval, located 300m over the French border in Évrange
. The ground's pitch is artificial matting on concrete.
The ground hosts a one-week junior training academy each July. In 2010 this was attended by forty boys and girls of all ages, who were coached by a Level 3 coach from the UK and benefited from the ground's "excellent facilities".
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
ground in Walferdange
Walferdange
Walferdange is a commune and small town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City., the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange and Bereldange.The commune of Walferdange was formed...
, in central Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It is the premier cricket venue in Luxembourg, being the home ground of the country's top club, the Optimists Cricket Club
Optimists Cricket Club
The Optimists Cricket Club, known simply as the Optimists or abbreviated to OCC, is a cricket club based in Walferdange, in central Luxembourg...
, which plays in the Belgian Cricket Legaue, and of the Luxembourg national team
Luxembourgian cricket team
The Luxembourgian cricket team is the team that represents the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in international cricket matches. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 1998....
.
The ground was opened in 1991. In 2002 the ground was given its present name to commemorate Pierre Werner (1913–2002), formerly Prime Minister of Luxembourg and honorary president of Optimists Cricket Club. The ground was established on land donated by the Walferdange commune
Walferdange
Walferdange is a commune and small town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City., the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange and Bereldange.The commune of Walferdange was formed...
, adjacent to the Alzette
Alzette
The Alzette is a river with a length of 73 kilometers in France and Luxembourg. It is a right tributary of the Sauer.It rises in Thil near the town Villerupt in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, France. It crosses the border with Luxembourg after a few kilometres. In Lameschmillen it is joined...
river.
The ground has hosted matches between the Luxembourg national team and various other teams, including the Belgium national team and the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. The heavy use of the ground is illustrated by the programme in 2003, when it "was in use almost every day between mid-April and early October". That year two internationals against France and one against Belgium were played on the ground (though one of the games against France was rained off). A six-a-side tournament was hosted in 2007.
The ground is the only outdoor venue regularly used for cricket in Luxembourg
Cricket in Luxembourg
Cricket in Luxembourg is dominated by the British and Indian expatriate communities, and remains a minor sport amongst native Luxembourgers.Luxembourg City, home to 1,800 Britons, is the centre of the sport, and all of Luxembourg's club sides are situated in the city's metropolitan area...
, with the only other venue being Robert Schuman Oval, located 300m over the French border in Évrange
Évrange
Évrange is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-Transportation:Évrange is served by the N53 Route nationale....
. The ground's pitch is artificial matting on concrete.
The ground hosts a one-week junior training academy each July. In 2010 this was attended by forty boys and girls of all ages, who were coached by a Level 3 coach from the UK and benefited from the ground's "excellent facilities".