As we all know, cricket is a gentleman’s game played on manicured verdant lawns, in the sunnier months of the year. But few know the sport has also quietly embraced the winter whites, as players commandeer a frozen lake in the tony ski resort of St Moritz. Here is where you’ll find the unlikely yet ideal setting for a game of cricket, that takes place only once a year, at St Moritz’s Cricket on Ice.

As the name suggests, the Cricket on Ice Tournament takes place on the frozen St Moritz lake with a unique, snowy-topped mountain backdrop, where pine trees cascade down the lower slopes to the lakes edge. Every year the event provides the unusual sight of amateur cricket players dramatically sliding around the makeshift snow-coated pitch. The frozen Lake has received a legendary reputation over the years as a venue for its unusual and extravagant, winter sporting events, making it the ideal setting for the Cricket on Ice event. In the depths of winter, the lake freezes to form a sturdy layer of ice, coated by soft falling snow, enabling it to withstand over 200 tons of weight, perfect for winter sports.

The event started in 1988, when a group of British tourists arrived in St Moritz to find no snow. One of the group members, Daniel Haering, recruited some students from his former Swiss boarding school, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, to challenge them to a cricket game on the frozen St Moritz lake. 33 years later, the event has become the ‘most prestigious event in the Swiss cricketing calendar’, attracting jetsetters, high-flying businessmen and professional players around the world.

Previous years have hosted some of cricket’s biggest names, including the famous former England captain David Gower, who parked his car on the lake overnight, returning to find only a car-sized hole in the ice. The unique 2018 tournament hosted famous cricketing icons from South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, England and Australia including Owais Shah (ENG), Mike Hussey (AUS) and Virender Sehwag (IND).

In a traditional match, cricket is played on manicured grass fields, which can be vulnerable to the interference of unfavourable weather conditions. However, everything is slightly different in St Moritz. The players trade their traditional whites for warmer layers, and the leather cricket ball is substituted for a plastic one, to prevent the cold bats from cracking on impact. Cricket spikes are swapped for standard sports shoes, an additional opportunity for players to lose their footing on the slippery surface. The traditional immaculately-mown rectangular pitch is imitated by a strip of artificial grass, nailed secure into the ice.

An assortment of local and international teams assembles in St Moritz for the highest level of cricket, playing at just under 1800m altitude. The freezing altitude affects the air pressure, enabling the fast-moving ball to fly even further, in addition to its spectacular jumps and dramatic slides that enhance the excitement of the game. The distant ripple of laughter reveals the convivial atmosphere of camaraderie amongst the players of both teams.

The St Moritz social calendar is a magnet for the international elite to see-and-be-seen in congenial company, while basking in the Alpine sunshine. Onlookers watch the captivating game from the side lines, as they recline on their chairs, sipping on something light and bubbly, in the champagne climate of St. Moritz. Alongside this fizzy relaxation, there is still time in between for guests to explore the ski resort internationally loved by skiers, celebrities and royalty, as it is filled with chic hotels, gourmet restaurants and perfectly manicured slopes for all ski abilities on-and-off the piste.

The tournament is catered by the four-star Hotel Schweizerhof, offering warming soups, bespoke dishes and a variety of warm and chilled beverages. As co-sponsor of the tournament, Hotel Schweizerhof offers a luxury stay for players and visitors, featuring a roof-top relaxation area with a sauna and steam bath. The hotel is in the centre of St. Moritz, overlooking the frozen arena of the Cricket on Ice event.

On the final night, the exclusive St. Moritz cricket club hosts a black-tie Gala Dinner at the Hotel Steffani, the co-sponsor of the tournament. The traditional, authentic Italian hotel, located in central St Moritz, features four different restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines from all around the world, with delicacies like dumplings to authentic cheese fondue. A local pianist provides the melodious ambiance for the evening, as the sparkling drinks reception transforms into a delectable four-course dinner. The evening ends with speeches from the hosts and an awards ceremony to celebrate the triumphant winners of the tournament. As the evening concludes, guests can visit one of the three hotel bars or the internal lounge and dance club, Vivai, that flaunts Veuve Cliquot themed sofas, DJs and table service.

While winter is usually known as the off-season for cricket, Cricket on Ice keeps it alive, by bringing the joy of the sport to the unique and spectacular setting of the St. Moritz frozen lake. Watch this bizarre spectacle of sportsmanship kick off in February in St Moritz: the legendary Swiss hub of unusual winter sports.