Located in the heart of Gros Islet, St. Lucia, the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground has been the stage for numerous unforgettable matches and continues to uphold its rich legacy in Caribbean cricket..
History of Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
Daren Sammy Stadium was originally named the Beausejour Stadium, after the famous Beausejour hills located in Rodney Bay. The stadium’s construction was completed in the year 2002 — this modern-day cricket venue quickly became a pivotal epicenter to host and provide a world-class cricket facility for the Caribbean. The stadium hosted its first international Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka in 2003, and made history by hosting the Caribbean’s first-ever day-night One Day International between the West Indies and Zimbabwe in 2006.
In the year 2016, the name of the stadium was changed to Daren Sammy Stadium, to honor the two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain for the West Indies, Daren Sammy. After the renewal of the name, the first international match was played between India and West Indies on August 9, 2016. One of the stands within the stadium is also named in honor of Johnson Charles, who was part of both the 2012 and 2016 World Cup winning teams.
| Field | Details |
| Venue Name | Daren Sammy Cricket Ground |
| Original Name | Beausejour Stadium |
| Location | Gros Islet, St Lucia, West Indies |
| Seating Capacity | 15,000 (increasing to 20,000) |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 63 meters |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 78 meters |
| Bowling Ends | Pavilion End, Media Centre End |
| Floodlights | Yes |
| Stadium Name Change | Renamed to Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in 2016 |
| First International Test Match | West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 2003 |
| First Day-Night ODI | West Indies vs Zimbabwe, 2006 (Caribbean’s first-ever day-night ODI) |
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Iconic Matches Played in Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium
The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground has the capacity to hold around 15,000 spectators, but is also flexible to accommodate up to 20,000 spectators for larger tournaments, providing an unforgettable and thrilling experience. Talking about the iconic tournaments the stadium has successfully hosted over the years, the list begins with the 2007 Cricket World Cup matches.
The 7 games, which included all 6 Group C matches, were held in this iconic venue, which has produced some extraordinary innings, especially from New Zealand, who went the round undefeated, twice scoring over 300 runs.
| Date | Match | Result |
| 14 March 2007 | Canada vs Kenya | Kenya won by 7 wickets |
| 16 March 2007 | England vs New Zealand | New Zealand won by 6 wickets |
| 25 April 2007 | South Africa vs Australia (Semi-final) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
Similarly, the stadium also hosted 10 matches of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. During this tournament, the stadium recorded the third international Twenty20 century scored by Indian batsman Suresh Raina in the match between India and South Africa. Some of the significant wins in the following tournament are:
| Date | Match | Result |
| 1 May 2010 | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Pakistan won by 21 runs |
| 2 May 2010 | India vs South Africa | India won by 14 runs |
| 14 May 2010 | Pakistan vs Australia (Semi-final) | Australia won by 3 wickets |
The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground boasts a record of having hosted six T20 World Cup 2024 games as well, among which three were Super 8 matches, and the remaining fixtures included the games from Group B, Group D, and Group C.
| Date (2024) | Match |
| Sat, 15 Jun | AUS vs SCO, 35th Match, Group B |
| Sun, 16 Jun | SL vs NED, 38th Match, Group D |
| Mon, 17 Jun | WI vs AFG, 40th Match, Group C |
| Wed, 19 Jun | B1 vs C2, Super 8 Group 2 |
| Fri, 21 Jun | B1 vs D1, Super 8 Group 2 |
| Mon, 24 Jun | B2 vs A1, Super 8 Group 1 |
Legacy of the Stadium
Keeping alive the history from matches hosted over the years, the Daren Sammy Stadium has been successful in carrying the legacy of some prominent players in the history of cricket. As of now, a total of 18 centuries in men’s Test matches have been recorded, among which the iconic player Brian Lara also scored a double century against Sri Lanka in 2003.
Similarly, Ravichandran Ashwin’s 118 runs for India against the West Indies in 2016 also hold a special place in the heart of the stadium.
The stadium has not only seen some special batting performances, but also an amazing spell, which contributed to a record 12 five-wicket hauls in Test matches and three’s in ODIs. Bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mark Wood, and Muttiah Muralitharan have taken over 5 wickets here.
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