Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Pitch Report, Map, Stats & Records

Sophia Gardens, also known as The SWALEC Stadium, is located beside the River Taff in Cardiff, Wales. It is the home ground of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and is an international Test venue.

Glamorgan have played here since 24th May, 1967, after moving from Cardiff Arms Park. The first international match at the ground was on 20th May, 1999, when Australia met New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup.

Between 2001 and 2012, the stadium hosted nine ODIs. England played here for the first time in 2006, starting a series against Pakistan. In 2012, it was chosen as one of the venues for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. The first Test match at the ground took place on 8th July, 2009, opening the Ashes series between England and Australia.

Sophia Gardens Test Records and Stats

Sophia Gardens has hosted several Test matches. In 2009, Australia registered the highest innings score here. They declared at 674/6 against England. On the other hand, Sri Lanka recorded the lowest innings score in Test cricket at this venue in 2011 when they got all-out for just 82 runs in the match versus England.

Former England batter Jonathan Trott has scored 203 runs, having played just one inning at this stadium. He holds the record of the most Test runs by a player at this ground. Ex-England pacer Stuart Broad bagged 10 wickets in three Test matches he played here during his career, which is still the most by a bowler at this stadium.

Trott scored 203 runs in an innings of a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2011, which is the highest individual score here. Australia fast-bowler Mitchell Starc is the only one to have taken a five-wicket haul in the Test format at Sophia Gardens. His figures of 5/114 are currently the best at this venue.

Sophia Gardens ODI Records and Stats

England recorded the highest score of 386/6 here in ODIs when they faced Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup. Afghanistan were bowled out for just 125 runs in the 2019 World Cup by South Africa, holding an unwanted record of the lowest ODI score at this stadium.

England’s Joe Root has scored 469 ODI runs in 11 matches at Sophia Gardens, which is the most by a batter here. Another England player, Adil Rashid, tops the wicket-taking charts. He has claimed 14 wickets in seven ODIs he has played at this ground.

Root played an unbeaten 166-run knock here against the West Indies in 2025, which is the highest individual score at this venue. India's Ravindra Jadeja picked four wickets while giving away just 28 runs in seven overs in an ODI versus England at this stadium in 2014. His figures of 4/28 is currently the best by a bowler here in ODIs.

Sophia Gardens T20I Records and Stats

South Africa scored 207/3 against England in 2022, which is the highest T20I total at this venue. Pakistan got bundled out for just 89 runs versus England in 2010, which is the lowest T20I total at Sophia Gardens.

Former England captain Eoin Morgan scored 215 runs in seven T20Is here, which is the most by a batter. England’s Chris Jordan pocketed seven wickets, having played six T20I matches at this ground. He holds the feat of the most wickets taken by a bowler here.

South Africa batter Rille Rossouw smashed 96 runs off 55 deliveries against England in 2022. He sits on the top of the list for the highest individual T20I score at this stadium. Australia all-rounder Matthew Short’s figures of 5/22 that he achieved in a T20I against England in 2024 are currently the best at this ground.

How to Reach Sophia Gardens?

Sophia Gardens Location

The stadium is well-connected and easily accessible:

📍 Address: Sophia Walk, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9XR, United Kingdom

Nearest Bus Station: Cardiff Coach Station 

Nearest Railway Station: Cardiff Central Railway Station 

Nearest Airport: Cardiff Airport (CWL)