Guaracara Park
Guaracara Park is a cricket ground in Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago. First-class cricket has been played there since 1960.
It was first used in representative cricket in 1947-48 when the touring MCC played a one-day match against South Trinidad.[1] In 1948 it replaced Skinner Park in San Fernando as South Trinidad's home ground in matches for the Beaumont Cup.[2]
The first match of first-class cricket at Guaracara Park was played between Trinidad and MCC in 1959-60, when David Allen took 7 for 33 and 3 for 30 to give MCC victory on a pitch helpful to the spin bowlers.[3] From 1960 to 1985 first-class matches in the Beaumont Cup and Texaco Cup were played there, along with several first-class matches between Trinidad and touring international teams between 1960 and 2000. Trinidad has played Regional Four Day Competition matches at Guaracara Park since 1981-82, including the finals in 1995-96, 2005-05 and 2006-07.
The highest score at the ground, and only double-century, is 202 by Phil Simmons for Trinidad against Guyana in 1991-92.[4] The best innings bowling figures are 8 for 27 by Prince Bartholomew for North and East Trinidad against South and Central Trinidad in 1975-76,[5] and the best match figures are 13 for 74 (6 for 45 and 7 for 29) by Stuart MacGill for the Australians against the West Indies Board President's XI in 1998-99.[6]
The ground is situated on the northern bank of the Guaracara River. The nearby oil refinery with its gas flare is clearly visible from the ground.[7]