The Oval; The AMP Oval; The Foster's Oval; The Brit Oval; The Kia Oval
1845
23500
Yes, 2009
Pavilion End, Vauxhall End
England, Surrey
10:24, Thu Jun 01, 2023 (UTC +0100)
Kennington Oval
 

Records and statistics

England v Australia - Sep 6-8, 1880 Scorecard
England v South Africa - Sep 8-12, 2022 Scorecard
Test records | Results | High totals | High scores | Most runs | Best bowling | Most wickets | Partnerships | Statsguru
England v West Indies - Sep 7, 1973 Scorecard
England v India - Jul 12, 2022 Scorecard
ODI records | Results | High totals | High scores | Most runs | Best bowling | Most wickets | Partnerships | Statsguru
England v West Indies - Jun 28, 2007 Scorecard
Bangladesh v Ireland - May 22, 2020 Scorecard
T20I records | Results | High totals | High scores | Most runs | Best bowling | Most wickets | Partnerships | Statsguru
Records index

Profile

This is where it all began. The first-ever Test on English soil was played here in September 1880, resulting in an England win over Australia by five wickets, with WG Grace scoring a hundred on debut, and this is where a Test series in England traditionally ends.

More pertinently, this is the historic venue where the legend of the Ashes was born a couple of years after the inaugural Test, in August 1882. England, chasing only 85 to win, slumped from 51 for 2 to 78 all out. The next morning The Sporting Times published its famous mock obituary and the legend was born.

The Oval has witnessed many historic matches. England's dramatic one-wicket win in 1902 inspired by Gilbert Jessop's sensational hundred; Australia's 701 in 1930 as Don Bradman (244) and Bill Ponsford (266) put on 451 for the second wicket; England's 903 for 7 as they beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs in 1938; Bradman's farewell duck in 1948; Denis Compton scoring the boundary which meant England regained the Ashes in 1953; Michael Holding's 14 wickets on a featherbed in 1976; Devon Malcolm's 9 for 57 against South Africa in 1994.

Owned by the Duchy of Cornwall (who is the Prince of Wales, hence his feathers have appeared on Surrey's badge since 1915), The Oval came about in the 1790s when an oval road was laid round what was then a cabbage patch. When a subsequent market garden failed, the land was opened as a cricket ground in 1845 after 10,000 turfs were brought in from Tooting Common. It has been Surrey headquarters ever since, even though it has been well outside the county boundary for many years.

It has hosted many other important sporting occasions and can claim to be the most important general sports ground in the world. It staged the first FA Cup final in 1872 (won by Wanderers in front of 2000 spectators) and the following year the first England international (against Scotland). It was the home of the FA Cup final between 1874 and 1892. In 1876 it staged to the first England v Wales and England v Scotland rugby internationals, and in 1877 to rugby's Varsity match. In addition, it has witnessed rock concerts (The Who and The Faces in 1971), ice skating and the now traditional end-of-season Aussie Rules match. It was also a temporary home to prisoners in transit during the Second World War.

The ground itself is dominated by the gasometers on the east side. Until fairly recently the pavilion, built in 1890, and the Vauxhall stand were the only structures of any significance, with banks of open and fairly uncomfortable seating making up the rest of the spectator facilities. More recent developments, culminating in a £25 million development which started in 2004. It was much needed as the venue had suffered from underinvestment and had a feeling of decay about it.

Notes

Travel
Tube - Oval station (Northern line) is 200 yards from the ground
Train - Vauxhall station (on all major routes to and from Waterloo) is about 800 yards away
Car - Parking is limited (generally to four-hour meters) and expensive near the ground and in surrounding streets. Some local schools open their car parks but these are also not cheap
Map here (this will link to streetmap.co.uk page)
Hotels Click here

Fixtures

2023
Wed Jun 7 - Sun Jun 11
10:30 local | 09:30 GMT
05:30 EDT | 04:30 CDT | 02:30 PDT
ICC World Test Championship
Final - Australia v India
Sun Jun 18 (20 ovs)
14:30 local | 13:30 GMT
09:30 EDT | 08:30 CDT | 06:30 PDT
Vitality Blast
South Group - Surrey v Hampshire
Tue Jun 20 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
Vitality Blast
South Group - Surrey v Glamorgan
Thu Jun 22 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
Vitality Blast
South Group - Surrey v Middlesex
Sun Jun 25 - Wed Jun 28
11:00 local | 10:00 GMT
06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT
County Championship Division One
Surrey v Lancashire
Fri Jun 30 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
Vitality Blast
South Group - Surrey v Somerset
Sun Jul 2 (20 ovs)
14:30 local | 13:30 GMT
09:30 EDT | 08:30 CDT | 06:30 PDT
Vitality Blast
South Group - Surrey v Essex
Wed Jul 5 (20 ovs)          
18:00 local | 17:00 GMT
13:00 EDT | 12:00 CDT | 10:00 PDT
2nd T20I - England Women v Australia Women
Mon Jul 10 - Thu Jul 13
11:00 local | 10:00 GMT
06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT
County Championship Division One
Surrey v Nottinghamshire
Thu Jul 27 - Mon Jul 31
11:00 local | 10:00 GMT
06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT
5th Test - England v Australia
Sun Aug 6 (20 ovs)
14:30 local | 13:30 GMT
09:30 EDT | 08:30 CDT | 06:30 PDT
The Hundred Women's Competition
Oval Invincibles (Women) v Welsh Fire (Women)
Sun Aug 6 (20 ovs)
18:00 local | 17:00 GMT
13:00 EDT | 12:00 CDT | 10:00 PDT
The Hundred Men's Competition
Oval Invincibles (Men) v Welsh Fire (Men)
Wed Aug 9 (20 ovs)
15:00 local | 14:00 GMT
10:00 EDT | 09:00 CDT | 07:00 PDT
The Hundred Women's Competition
Manchester Originals (Women) v Oval Invincibles (Women)
Wed Aug 9 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
The Hundred Men's Competition
Manchester Originals (Men) v Oval Invincibles (Men)
Tue Aug 15 (20 ovs)
15:00 local | 14:00 GMT
10:00 EDT | 09:00 CDT | 07:00 PDT
The Hundred Women's Competition
London Spirit (Women) v Oval Invincibles (Women)
Tue Aug 15 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
The Hundred Men's Competition
London Spirit (Men) v Oval Invincibles (Men)
Mon Aug 21 (20 ovs)
15:00 local | 14:00 GMT
10:00 EDT | 09:00 CDT | 07:00 PDT
The Hundred Women's Competition
Oval Invincibles (Women) v Trent Rockets (Women)
Mon Aug 21 (20 ovs)          
18:30 local | 17:30 GMT
13:30 EDT | 12:30 CDT | 10:30 PDT
The Hundred Men's Competition
Oval Invincibles (Men) v Trent Rockets (Men)
Sat Aug 26 (20 ovs)
14:30 local | 13:30 GMT
09:30 EDT | 08:30 CDT | 06:30 PDT
The Hundred Women's Competition
Eliminator - TBC v TBC
Sat Aug 26 (20 ovs)          
18:00 local | 17:00 GMT
13:00 EDT | 12:00 CDT | 10:00 PDT
The Hundred Men's Competition
Eliminator - TBC v TBC
Sun Sep 3 - Wed Sep 6
11:00 local | 10:00 GMT
06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT
County Championship Division One
Surrey v Warwickshire
Wed Sep 13 (50 ovs)          
12:30 local | 11:30 GMT
07:30 EDT | 06:30 CDT | 04:30 PDT
3rd ODI - England v New Zealand
Tue Sep 19 - Fri Sep 22
11:00 local | 10:00 GMT
06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT
County Championship Division One
Surrey v Northamptonshire
Day and Night - Day and Night International Matches - International Matches Live - Covered by Cricinfo
No responsibility is taken by Cricinfo for the accuracy of this information.

Latest Photos

A Saturday Championship crowd at Kia Oval, Surrey vs Hampshire, Kia Oval, County Championship, 3rd day, April 15, 2023
A Saturday Championship crowd at Kia Oval
© Getty Images
The second day's play was cancelled following the death of the Queen, England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Kia Oval, 2nd day, September 9, 2022
The second day's play in the third Test between England and South Africa was cancelled following the death of the Queen
© Getty Images
The Union flag flies at half-mast, England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Kia Oval, 1st day, September 8, 2022
The Union flag flies at half-mast
© Surrey CCC/Getty Images
It was a grim morning in south London, England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, day 1, Kia Oval, September 8, 2022
It was a grim morning in south London
© PA Images via Getty Images
 
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