NSW Cricket Centre of Excellence
Delivering ICC Compliant Facilities for the Future of Cricket in NSW
New South Wales

One of the biggest hurdles on this project was the ground itself. The site presented difficult subsoil conditions, which meant the surface couldn’t be built upon without careful stabilisation work. Without addressing this issue, the long-term performance and durability of the fields would have been at risk.

Another unique challenge was Cricket Australia’s ambition to replicate playing conditions from different parts of the country within the practice area. They wanted to use a variety of soils sourced from other regions to mimic the feel of wickets found in major cities and regional centres. For players, this meant being able to train on surfaces similar to those they would encounter during competitions, effectively giving them an extra edge when preparing for matches.

To overcome the site’s poor subgrade, our team developed a design that incorporated capping layers, engineered layers of material placed above the natural soil to create a stable base. These layers provided a reliable foundation, ensuring the surface would remain consistent and playable over time despite the difficult ground conditions underneath.

For the practice lanes, we worked closely with Cricket Australia to source different soil profiles and suitable turf varieties. This allowed us to recreate the conditions of pitches from across Australia, such as those known for their pace, bounce, or spin.

By providing 43 lanes with these varied characteristics, players could choose the most relevant wicket to train on, tailoring their preparation to their upcoming fixtures. The result was a training environment unlike any other in the country: highly specific, versatile, and fully aligned with the demands of elite performance.

Designed with cricketers of all levels, from grassroots to elite players, in mind, Cricket Central NSW hosts six professional teams, including BBL and WBBL teams. It also provides a dedicated year-round training facility for cricket, as well as a community centre and cricket hub, reinforcing Cricket Australia's goal of creating a centre that supports all levels of the game for the state of New South Wales.

“This project has been years in the making with support from all levels of government and all of our building partners. While it’s the home for our elite players and staff, it is also very much the home for all of those who play and love cricket in the state. It’s a place that brings all of cricket's communities together,” said Lee Germon, CEO of Cricket NSW.

Source: New home of NSW Cricket officially opens

Stage 2 of the development, which includes a community oval adjacent to the ICC-compliant main oval, has also been designed by SPORTENG and is currently under construction at the time of publishing.

Together, these facilities represent a major step forward in cricket infrastructure for New South Wales and the wider cricketing community.