The arrival of earth-moving machinery at a 28,104 square metre plot in Playa Flamenca has generated strong interest and debate in Orihuela Costa. The land, located between Arco Iris and Victoria streets, is licensed for a sports centre and is set to become a cricket ground. Promoters claim it will be the largest in Europe.

The project forms part of a wider strategy to expand sports facilities in an area known for its diverse and multicultural population. Orihuela Costa is home to residents of more than 100 nationalities, including large British, Indian, Pakistani, South African and Australian communities, where cricket is a national sport.

Supporters argue the facility could fill a gap in local sports provision and attract regional or even national competitions, boosting sports tourism and the local economy. However, some residents believe other priorities, such as basic infrastructure, maintenance and more widely used sports facilities, should come first.

Cricket is the world’s second most watched sport after football. In Alicante province, the sport’s main hub is the Sporting Alfàs Cricket Club in L’Alfàs del Pi, while nearby La Manga Club in Murcia hosts international training camps and tournaments. A lack of suitable grounds remains one of the main barriers to wider development in Spain.