Grace Road in Leicester has established itself as a competitive venue in the T20 Blast since its first match in 2014, offering distinct statistical profiles for Leicestershire County Cricket Club and their opponents.
As the home ground of Leicestershire, the stadium—often referred to as the Uptonsteel County Ground—hosts a significant number of T20 Blast fixtures, contributing to the league's overall depth and providing key data points for batting and bowling records.
Overview
Grace Road, currently branded as the Uptonsteel County Ground, serves as the primary home venue for Leicestershire County Cricket Club in Leicester, England. The ground has established itself as a consistent fixture in the domestic T20 calendar, specifically within the T20 Blast competition. As of the 2026 season, the stadium has hosted a total of 153 T20 Blast matches. The venue's tenure in the format began on 16 May 2014, marking the start of its statistical record in the county's premier limited-overs tournament. The most recent match recorded at the venue took place on 29 May 2026, continuing a tradition of hosting high-intensity county clashes.
The T20 Blast format at Grace Road follows the standard rules of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) domestic competition. Each team faces a maximum of 20 overs, with powerplay restrictions and fielding dynamics that often favor the batting side depending on pitch conditions. Over the period from 2014 to 2026, the ground has seen a wide variety of matchups involving Leicestershire Foxes against rival counties. The statistical record spans over a decade of competition, providing a substantial dataset for analyzing team performance, head-to-head records, and venue-specific trends.
As a county ground, Grace Road offers a distinct environment compared to larger international stadiums. The dimensions of the outfield and the behavior of the pitch can vary significantly between seasons, influencing scoring rates and bowling strategies. Teams competing at this venue must adapt to local conditions, which have historically provided a balanced contest between bat and ball in the T20 format. The venue's capacity and layout contribute to the atmosphere during evening fixtures, which are common in the T20 Blast schedule.
For analysts and fantasy cricket participants, the 153 matches played at Grace Road offer a robust sample size for evaluating player consistency and team strengths. While specific individual records such as highest scores or best bowling figures require detailed match-by-match review, the aggregate data confirms the ground's role as a key venue in the English domestic T20 landscape. The continuity of matches from 2014 through 2026 underscores the ground's reliability and importance to Leicestershire's home advantage in the T20 Blast.
Venue Profile and Match Frequency
Grace Road, currently branded as the Uptonsteel County Ground for sponsorship purposes, serves as the primary home venue for Leicestershire County Cricket Club in Leicester, England. The ground has established itself as a significant fixture in the English domestic T20 landscape, specifically within the T20 Blast competition. The venue hosted its inaugural T20 match in 2014, marking the beginning of a steady accumulation of statistical data that defines its profile in modern limited-overs cricket.
Leicestershire has leveraged Grace Road as a stronghold, playing the highest number of matches at the ground compared to other county franchises. According to Cricsheet data, the Foxes have contested 86 T20 Blast matches at this venue. This high frequency of usage provides a robust sample size for analyzing team performance, pitch behavior, and head-to-head matchups. The sheer volume of games means that records set at Grace Road are often more statistically significant than those at venues with fewer fixtures.
The ground's dimensions and pitch characteristics have influenced scoring patterns over the years. While specific run totals and wicket counts vary by season, the venue is known for offering a balanced contest between bat and ball, depending on the time of year and weather conditions. Leicestershire's extensive match history at Grace Road allows for detailed analysis of home advantage, including win percentages, average first-innings scores, and the performance of key players in familiar surroundings.
For fantasy cricket players and analysts, Grace Road is a key venue to monitor. The 86-match record provides insights into how different teams perform against Leicestershire at home, as well as how visiting counties adapt to the conditions. The venue has hosted numerous high-profile T20 Blast encounters, contributing to the overall narrative of the competition. As the T20 Blast continues to evolve, Grace Road remains a central hub for domestic T20 action in the East Midlands, with its statistical records serving as a benchmark for team and player performance.
The ground's administrative role as the base for Leicestershire County Cricket Club further cements its importance. Match scheduling, pitch preparation, and logistical arrangements are optimized for the host team, which may contribute to their strong presence in the match count. Fans and journalists tracking T20 Blast statistics will find Grace Road's data essential for understanding the dynamics of the league, particularly in the context of Leicestershire's long-term performance and strategic planning.
Batting Records at Grace Road
Grace Road in Leicester serves as the home ground for Leicestershire County Cricket Club in the T20 Blast. The venue has hosted Twenty20 matches since 2014, establishing itself as a competitive surface for both batting and bowling. Statistical records at this ground highlight specific high-scoring performances that define its profile in county cricket.
Batting Records at Grace Road
The highest team total recorded in T20 Blast matches at Grace Road is 255 for 2. This aggregate was achieved by Yorkshire when they faced Leicestershire on July 23, 2019. The performance demonstrated the ground's capacity to support high-scoring encounters, particularly when the pitch offers consistent bounce and carry to the boundary. Yorkshire's total of 255/2 remains the benchmark for batting dominance at this venue in the competition.
Individual batting milestones at Grace Road are also notable. The highest individual score in T20 Blast history at this ground is 127 runs, scored by Tom Kohler-Cadmore. He achieved this feat on May 20, 2016, during a match involving Leicestershire. Kohler-Cadmore's century stands as the top individual performance in the format at this specific stadium, reflecting a dominant display against the county's bowling attack.
These records provide context for fantasy cricket selections and team strategies when planning for fixtures at Grace Road. The data indicates that while the ground can produce high totals, individual brilliance, such as Kohler-Cadmore's 127, often plays a decisive role in match outcomes. Analysts tracking T20 Blast statistics use these benchmarks to evaluate player form and pitch conditions for upcoming seasons.
Bowling Records at Grace Road
Bowling Records at Grace Road
Grace Road in Leicester, serving as the home venue for Leicestershire County Cricket Club in the T20 Blast, has produced notable statistical outliers in both individual bowling performances and team batting collapses since its first T20 match in 2014. The ground's dimensions and pitch characteristics have occasionally favored spinners and seamers alike, leading to memorable records that define the venue's competitive history.
The best bowling figures in T20 Blast matches at Grace Road stand at 7 wickets for 18 runs. This exceptional performance was achieved by South African seamer CN Ackermann on 7 August 2019. Such a dominant spell is rare in the shortest format, where consistency over 10 overs is often more common than sheer volume of wickets. Ackermann's figures remain the benchmark for individual excellence on this surface, highlighting the potential for a single bowler to dismantle an opposing lineup under specific match conditions.
On the batting front, Grace Road has also witnessed extreme team totals that reflect challenging pitch conditions or dominant bowling attacks. The lowest team total recorded at the venue is 16 runs for the loss of 0 wickets. This occurred during a match between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire on 9 August 2019. A score of 16/0 indicates a truncated innings or a specific match situation where the batting side was bowled out or lost wickets rapidly, though the record specifically notes the score at the fall of wickets or the end of the innings. This low total underscores the variability of T20 cricket, where team scores can dip significantly below the average, impacting fielding strategies and run-rate requirements.
These records—Ackermann's 7/18 and Northamptonshire's 16/0—occur within a short timeframe in August 2019, suggesting that the pitch conditions during that period were particularly conducive to bowling dominance. For fantasy cricket players and analysts, these statistics highlight Grace Road as a venue where bowling matchups can be decisive, and team totals can be volatile. When evaluating player form for matches at the Uptonsteel County Ground, historical data from this period provides critical context for predicting outcomes, especially for bowlers targeting wicket-rich environments.
What is the highest team total at Grace Road in the T20 Blast?
The highest team total recorded at Grace Road in the T20 Blast is 255/2. This record was set during a match between Yorkshire and Leicestershire on 23 July 2019. The venue, also known as the Uptonsteel County Ground, serves as the administrative base and home ground for Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Located in Leicester, England, Grace Road has hosted T20 Blast fixtures since 2014. The 255-run score highlights the ground’s capacity to produce high-scoring encounters, particularly when the pitch favors batsmen. In the specific match against Yorkshire, Leicestershire posted this total, demonstrating strong batting depth and effective strike rotation. This record stands as a benchmark for batting performances at the venue in the county’s premier T20 competition. Fans and analysts track such totals to assess pitch conditions and team strategies. The 2019 season saw several notable performances at Grace Road, but the 255/2 total remains the highest team score in T20 Blast history at this ground. Understanding these records helps in evaluating team strengths and venue-specific tactics. The T20 Blast format, with its 20-over structure, often leads to varied scores depending on weather and pitch wear. Grace Road’s dimensions and surface type contribute to these outcomes. The match on 23 July 2019 is a key reference point for comparing future batting displays. Leicestershire’s performance against Yorkshire underscores the competitive nature of the T20 Blast. This record is distinct from other formats played at the venue, such as One Day Internationals or The Hundred. The T20 Blast remains a critical tournament for county cricket, with Grace Road playing a significant role in Leicester’s cricketing identity. The 255/2 total reflects effective batting and fielding conditions. Analysts use such data to predict outcomes and assess player form. The venue continues to be a key location for T20 Blast fixtures, with records like this one providing context for ongoing competitions. The 2019 match remains a highlight in the venue’s T20 Blast history.
Who holds the best bowling figures at Grace Road?
Best Bowling Figures at Grace Road
Grace Road, the home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club, has hosted numerous T20 Blast matches since the venue's first T20 fixture in 2014. Among the statistical highlights at this Leicester ground, the best bowling figures belong to CN Ackermann. On 7 August 2019, Ackermann delivered a dominant performance, claiming 7 wickets for just 18 runs. This achievement stands out as one of the most remarkable individual bowling displays in T20 Blast history at this specific venue.
The rarity of seven-wicket hauls in the T20 format cannot be overstated. In T20 cricket, innings are often decided by batting depth and power-hacking, meaning bowlers frequently concede runs even when taking wickets. To restrict a team to 18 runs while removing seven batters requires exceptional consistency and the ability to exploit specific pitch conditions. Grace Road's surface, known for offering assistance to seamers early on and later to spinners, played a crucial role in Ackermann's success.
Ackermann's 7/18 performance is not just a local record but also a benchmark for T20 Blast bowling excellence. Such figures are statistically uncommon across all T20 competitions, including the IPL, CPL, and BBL. In the T20 Blast, where county teams often feature a mix of international stars and domestic specialists, achieving seven wickets in a single innings highlights a bowler's ability to dominate both the top and middle order. This performance by Ackermann remains a key reference point for analysts evaluating bowling prowess at Grace Road.
For fantasy cricket players and statisticians, Ackermann's figures provide valuable insights into the venue's behavior. The match on 7 August 2019 demonstrated that under the right conditions, a skilled bowler can completely dismantle a batting lineup. This record underscores the importance of selecting bowlers who can adapt to the pitch's evolution, a critical factor in T20 Blast strategy at Grace Road. As of 2026, no other bowler has surpassed this specific combination of wickets and economy rate in T20 Blast matches at this Leicester ground.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first T20 Blast match played at Grace Road?
The first T20 Blast match at Grace Road took place in 2014.
Which team uses Grace Road as their home ground in the T20 Blast?
Leicestershire County Cricket Club uses Grace Road as their home ground.
What is the highest team total recorded at Grace Road in the T20 Blast?
Specific highest team totals require detailed match data from the 2014 onwards to determine the exact record holder.
Who holds the best bowling figures at Grace Road in the T20 Blast?
The best bowling figures are determined by analyzing individual match performances since the venue's T20 Blast debut in 2014.
Is Grace Road also known by a sponsorship name?
Yes, it is known for sponsorship reasons as the Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road.
Summary
Grace Road has hosted T20 Blast matches since 2014, serving as the home venue for Leicestershire County Cricket Club. The stadium provides a key statistical backdrop for the league, with records in batting and bowling evolving over the years.