About | Details |
|---|---|
Also known as | Ageas Bowl, Utilita Bowl, and West End |
Named After | The Hampshire County Cricket Club's rose and crown logo and the bowl-shaped structure of the ground |
Capacity | 15000 (up to 25000 with temporary seats) |
End Names | Northern End, Pavilion End |
Flood Lights | Yes |
Home Teams | Hampshire, Southern Vipers, Southern Brave, and England |
Pitch | Grass |
The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, also known as the Rose Bowl, was established in 2001. The stadium is currently referred to as the Utilita Bowl after a change in sponsors in 2024. This iconic venue was granted Test status after expansions and infrastructural improvements, and it began hosting Test matches for England. The stadium serves as the home ground for Hampshire County Club, Southern Vipers, Southern Brave, and the England national team.
The Rose Bowl can accommodate around 15,000 spectators permanently, with the capability to add temporary seating to increase capacity to 25,000 for major events. This stadium is considered one of the most unique grounds in England, featuring on-site facilities like a Hilton hotel, conference suites, a club shop, and a golf course as part of its transformation into a multi-purpose sports and leisure complex.
The pitch here has natural grass and offers balanced gameplay. But the typical behavior is that as the game progresses, the surface begins to assist spinners by offering grip, giving the bowling side an advantage. However, the shorter boundaries allow batters to take risks provided they’ve settled well at the crease.
The Rose Bowl Test Records and Stats
The stadium has hosted a total of 7 Test matches. The hosts, the England Cricket Team, have set the highest record here in the red-ball format. The team scored 583/8 runs against Pakistan in 2020. Meanwhile, the men in blue Indian team recorded the lowest total, being bowled out for 170 by New Zealand in the World Test Championship finals at this venue.
England opening batter Zak Crawley holds the record for scoring the most runs at this venue, scoring 406 runs in 3 Test matches. In the bowling department, Sir James Anderson holds the record for the most wickets at this venue, with 26 wickets in 6 matches to his name.
The highest individual score in a Test match at the Rose Bowl is 267 runs, scored by Zak Crawley of England against Pakistan in 2020. Former West Indies skipper Jason Holder achieved the best match bowling figures with 6 wickets for 42 runs against England at this venue.
The Rose Bowl ODI Records and Stats
The stadium has hosted a total of 37 ODI matches and has witnessed several high-scoring games. The highest ODI total at this ground was set by the hosts England, scoring 373/3 runs against Pakistan in 2019. The lowest recorded total in ODIs at the Rose Bowl was by associate nation USA, who were bowled out for 68 runs by Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004.
Former England skipper Eoin Morgan holds the record for scoring the most runs at this venue - 752 runs in 17 matches. In the bowling department, David Willey of England has the most wickets at this ground, with 16 scalps in 6 matches to his name.
The highest individual score in an ODI match at the Rose Bowl Stadium is an unbeaten 189 runs, scored by Martin Guptill of New Zealand, against England in 2013. The best individual bowling figures, 5 wickets for 29 runs, were recorded by Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al-Hasan against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup.
The Rose Bowl T20 Records and Stats
Ageas Bowl has hosted a record number of 18 T20I matches and has seen nail-biting encounters over the years. The highest T20I total was set by England, scoring 248/3 against West Indies in 2025, while the lowest total in this format was recorded by Australia, scoring 79/10 against England in 2025 at this venue.
The most runs at this stadium were scored by former Australian skipper Aaron Finch, who scored 281 runs in 4 matches. England’s right-arm pacer Chris Jordan and spinner Adil Rashid have taken the most wickets here with 9 dismissals each at this venue.
The highest individual T20I score at the venue was also by Aaron Finch, who scored 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013, while Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi recorded the best figures at this ground with 5 for 24 against England in 2022.
How to Reach Rose Bowl Stadium (Utilita Bowl)?
The stadium is quite easily accessible:
📍 Address: Botley Road, West End, Southampton, SO30 3XH, England
🚆 Nearest Train Station: Hedge End – about 2 miles away
🚌 Match-Day Shuttle Bus: Runs from Southampton Central Station on big match days
🚌 Nearby Bus Stops: Moorgreen Hospital (Bus No.24), Telegraph Woods (Bus No. 14)
