Headingley Stadium sits in the Headingley suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, and is actually two grounds in one: a cricket ground used by Yorkshire County Cricket Club since 1891 and a rugby league stadium home to the Leeds Rhinos since 1890. The two venues share a boundary and, in places, a stand, making the complex one of English sport’s more unusual dual-purpose arenas.
The cricket ground’s Test-match history is more recent than the ground itself: its first Test came in 1899, a match between England and Australia. It is best known for two legendary Ashes moments: Don Bradman’s colossal 334 in 1930, when he scored 309 runs in a single day, and England’s astonishing 18-run comeback win over Australia in 1981, powered by Ian Botham’s 149 not out and Bob Willis’s 8-for-43 after England had followed on.
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: Yorkshire CCC (cricket), Leeds Rhinos (rugby league)
- Location: Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
- Ground Opened: 1890 (rugby ground), 1891 (cricket ground, first used by Yorkshire)
- First Test Match: 1899 (England v Australia)
- Cricket Capacity: about 18,350
- Rugby Capacity: about 19,700
- Combined Complex Capacity: about 38,050
- Notable Record: Don Bradman’s 334 vs England, 1930
A Ground of Two Halves
What makes Headingley distinctive is its layout: rather than one bowl-shaped arena, it’s a cricket ground and a rugby league stadium built side by side, connected in part by a shared stand. Redevelopment under the Headingley Masterplan, launched in 2014, has reshaped the rugby side in phases, with a new South Stand opening in 2018 and a North Stand following in 2019, while the cricket ground added floodlights in 2015 to allow day-night fixtures.
Test Cricket’s Dramatic Stage
Few grounds have produced Ashes drama like Headingley. Although the cricket ground dates to 1891, it didn’t stage Test cricket until 1899, and beyond Bradman’s 1930 masterclass, it is forever tied to the 1981 Ashes, when England, following on and seemingly beaten, stormed back to win by 18 runs — only the second follow-on victory in Test history at that point. Stuart Broad later became the ground’s leading modern wicket-taker, and Headingley hosted an Ashes Test as recently as 2023.
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Headingley Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Headingley Stadium?
Yorkshire County Cricket Club plays its home matches on the cricket ground, while the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team plays on the adjoining rugby stadium.
How big is Headingley Stadium?
The cricket ground holds about 18,350 spectators and the rugby stadium about 19,700, with the combined complex accommodating roughly 38,050 people.
What is Headingley Stadium famous for?
It’s famous for hosting Ashes Test cricket since its first Test in 1899, including some of the format’s most dramatic moments, such as Don Bradman’s 334 in 1930 and England’s improbable 18-run comeback win over Australia in 1981.
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Photo: JohnSeb / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.