The Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, is now one of the most renowned cricketing courts of the Caribbean. This stadium is named after Brian Charles Lara, the greatest former West Indies captain and a world record holder and considered to be a dream come true making a difference between a cricket ground and a stadium. Its state of the art facilities, capability to seat 15000 people and its history of controversy and success has already seen the venue host some of the most exhilarating matches in cricket.
This comprehensive overview will take an in-depth tour of the history, layout, attributes, records, scandals, and world events hosted at the stadium, including its key role in the 2024 ICC Men s T20 World Cup.
Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Overview
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy at Tarouba in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago has been able to develop into one of the most discussed cricket facilities in the Caribbean. The ground contains seating capacity of 15,000 with the world class facilities and the ground in home of Trinbago Knight Riders and frequently hosting international and Caribbean Premier league ( CPL ) matches. Checking on things such as the pitch report, weather conditions, average scores and upcoming matches are some of the details fans seek and here we present all that you need to know.
The table below captures the key details of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy:
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Tarouba, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Coordinates | 10°17′48″N 61°25′47″W |
| Established | 2008 (completed in 2017) |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Owner | Government of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Operator | Government of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tenants | Trinbago Knight Riders, Trinidad and Tobago National Cricket Team |
| End Names | North End, South End |
| First ODI | 1 August 2023 – West Indies vs India |
| Last ODI (as of Aug 2025) | 12 August 2025 – West Indies vs Pakistan |
| First T20I | 29 July 2022 – West Indies vs India |
| First WODI | 11 October 2017 – West Indies vs Sri Lanka |
| First WT20I | 28 September 2018 – West Indies vs South Africa |
Naming and Legacy
The Stadium is named proudly after Brian Lara who is one of the greatest batsmen of all time in cricket. Lara held the records in highest number of runs scored in a test match and until 2008, he was the all-time run-scorer of Test cricket, as he was overtaken by Sachin Tendulkar. Renaming of the venue in his honor was not only a token of symbolization, but representation of his untold input to West Indies cricket.
Brain Lara Cricket Academy Pitch Report
Although pitch conditions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy are mostly favourable, they provide the bat and the ball with reasonable challenge. Traversing in the initial minutes of the games, the batsmen are provided with steady bounce and worthwhile shots. The game however, evolves as the spinners start attaining grip and variation as the game goes on and the batting sides struggle to get going.
- In ODIs the surface has been levelled and could favour stroke-play but it also rewards disciplined bowlers.
- During T20s particularly in CPL, tracks can slow down to support spinners, as well as cutters. On this ground totals of 150 and up to 160 are competitive.
- The preparation pitches at the academy complex also include providing various conditions so as to make young cricketers adaptable to these pitches by testing during the test levels.
Pitch Characteristics Table
| Format | Pitch Behavior |
| ODI | Balanced surface, good for both bat and ball |
| T20 | Slower track, spinners and cutters dominate late overs |
| Training Facility | Multiple wickets for varied conditions |
Weather Report
As it is located around the south part of Trinidad, the stadium has a tropical humid climate. Comparatively warm conditions with a likely possibility of rain or thunder can be very common in matches.
- Temperature: 24-28 o C usually.
- Rain Factor: Rainfall is usual over short periods of time; usually in the afternoons and evenings.
- Humidity: The excessive humidity value provides pacesetters with swing and helps spinners in the future.
This implies that there is a potential of rain interruptions to users playing and the fans, and captains tend to favor chase due to unpredictability of weather.
Brian Lara Stadium Average Score
The scoring pattern in Brian Lara Cricket Academy varies with the format.
Average Score Stats
| Format | Average 1st Innings | Average 2nd Innings | Highest Total | Lowest Total |
| T20 | 161 | — | 267/3 | 40/10 |
| ODI | 213 | 177 | 351/5 | 136/10 |
In T20s, teams scoring above 160 often hold an advantage.- In ODIs, scores above 280 have proved match-winning.
- The ground has witnessed both high-scoring thrillers and low-scoring collapses, highlighting its unpredictable nature.
Recent Matches
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is a place that has staged a few exciting matches in the recent past.
- West Indies vs Pakistan (August 2025, ODI): West Indies scored the highest ever margin of victory over Pakistan in ODIs by 202 runs. Shai Hope hit an unbeaten 120, and Jayden Seales, six wickets.
- West Indies Breakout League 2025 (AprilMay): Finally, this was a regional league of T20 teams, with the final producing a victory by Trinidad & Tobago Legions over Leeward Islands Thunder by 17 runs.
Recent Match Highlights Table
| Date | Match/Event | Result |
| Aug 2025 | West Indies vs Pakistan ODI | WI won by 202 runs |
| May 2025 | WIBL Final | T&T Legions won by 17 runs |
Upcoming Matches
The CPL 2025 will be played in several high-voltage matches in the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The venue will once again be the home ground of Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR).
CPL 2025 Fixtures at Brian Lara Stadium
| Date | Match |
| Aug 27, 2025 | TKR vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons |
| Aug 29, 2025 | TKR vs Barbados Royals |
| Aug 30, 2025 | TKR vs Guyana Amazon Warriors |
| Sep 1, 2025 | TKR vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots |
| Sep 3, 2025 | TKR vs Saint Lucia Kings |
These fixtures are expected to be sell-out matches, with passionate home fans creating a lively atmosphere under the lights.
Brain Lara Academy Development and Controversy
In 2004, it was proposed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the idea of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. It was aimed to develop a top-class sports complex before the Cricket World Cup 2007. But it did not take place without disturbances:
- Originally budgeted at TT$257 million, delays and cost overruns pushed the final figure past TT$1 billion by the time of completion in 2017.
- Design flaws, contractor issues, and political debates made it one of the most controversial infrastructure projects in the country.
- Despite setbacks, its eventual completion transformed Tarouba into a global cricket destination.
Major Cricketing Milestones
Since its opening in 2017, the stadium has already created a strong cricketing legacy. Let’s explore the key firsts and landmark matches:
| Format | First Match | Opponents | Year |
| ODI | West Indies vs India | 1 Aug 2023 | 2023 |
| T20I | West Indies vs India | 29 Jul 2022 | 2022 |
| WODI | West Indies vs Sri Lanka | 11 Oct 2017 | 2017 |
| WT20I | West Indies vs South Africa | 28 Sep 2018 | 2018 |
| CPL Final | Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | Sep 2017 | 2017 |
The ground also became a permanent home for CPL finals between 2017–2020, establishing its status as the Caribbean’s showpiece venue.
Hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
The 2024 ICC Men T20 World Cup was one of the best destinations in the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. It was a venue of exciting group matches and the opening semi-final that attracted world headlines.
Here’s a summary of the T20 World Cup 2024 matches at the venue:
| Date | Match | Result | Player of the Match |
| 12 June 2024 | West Indies vs New Zealand | WI won by 13 runs | Sherfane Rutherford (WI) |
| 13 June 2024 | Papua New Guinea vs Afghanistan | Afghanistan won by 7 wickets | Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) |
| 14 June 2024 | Uganda vs New Zealand | New Zealand won by 9 wickets | Tim Southee (NZ) |
| 17 June 2024 | Papua New Guinea vs New Zealand | New Zealand won by 7 wickets | Lockie Ferguson (NZ) |
| 26 June 2024 | Semi-final 1: Afghanistan vs South Africa | South Africa won by 9 wickets | Marco Jansen (SA) |
Key Highlights from the Tournament:
- The unbeaten 68 made by Sherfane Rutherford against New Zealand joined the list of the most acclaimed performances in Caribbean cricket.
- Lockie Ferguson bowled four successive maiden overs in a T20I record-breaking performance.
- It was a sad departure of Trent Boult as he played his final T20I.
- This was an historic milestone as Afghanistan made it to an ICC semi-final.
- South Africa entered their first T20 world cup final making history.
Economic and Ethnic Implication
In Trinidad and Tobago, although it went over budget, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy has enhanced their sporting image:
- Tourism and Economy- Playing host to CPL finals and international games has brought the cricket lovers to the hosts thus raising tourism earnings.
- Player Development There are world-class training facilities available which have increased the capabilities of young players based in the Caribbean to compete internationally.
- Cultural Signifier The stadium is a reminder of a Brian Lara legacy where he has left a mark uniting future generations of cricketers.
Other than Cricket: Sports & Facilities
The Academy was made multi-purpose. Although cricket is its primary point of attraction, it was designed to accommodate:
- Olympic-sized swimming pools aquatic centre (constructed later at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva).
- Cycling events Velodrome (also relocated to Couva).
- Indoor sports halls and sportsmen and women training schools.
- It is envisaged that a hotel will be built so that the players and officials will have an opportunity to become a self-sufficient sports village.
Records at the Venue
These are some of the interesting records and facts:
- The Trinbago Knight Riders were crowned winners at the first CPL Final in 2017 at the ground.
- The highest individual score at the stadium in the context of a T20 World Cup match is by Sherfane Rutherford 68 (39 balls).
- The bowling figures of Lockie Ferguson of 4-0-0-3 became legendary.
- A decade after the urgent planning, the stadium opened 10 years late and 4 times over its initial budget.
Conclusion
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy stands as a modern marvel in the Caribbean’s sporting landscape. Despite its rocky development, today it represents hope, progress, and cricketing excellence. With a capacity of 15,000, world-class training facilities, and the legacy of a cricketing legend attached to its name, it continues to inspire young players and entertain fans worldwide.
Refresh Date: August 22, 2025
