Bowlers in for stiff test

The venue for the first Test to be staged in England, in 1880, between the same two teams, will host the Ashes decider. There have been six previous occasions of these two teams coming in to a final Test at The Oval with the series tied, but this is the first such instance since 1953. On each of these occasions there's been a decisive result, with England winning four of them and losing two.

England's heavy defeat at Headingley means Australia only need a draw to retain the Ashes, and with almost 40% of Tests played at The Oval being drawn, England face a stiff task on what is likely to be a good batting pitch. Another discouraging fact for the hosts is that Surrey's four home Division Two County Championship games this year at The Oval were all drawn.

The teams, though, have contrasting records at the venue. England have largely been dominant; Australia have won six and lost 15. But three of the four Ashes Tests here since 1990 have been dead rubbers while the fourth, in 2005, was a draw which helped England regain the urn after 16 years.

The Australian seamers made the most of favourable conditions at Headingley but are likely to face a more serious challenge at The Oval. The pitches at the venue, generally, have been the best for batting among the Test venues in England and teams, since 2000, have averaged more per wicket here - barring Cardiff which has hosted just one Test - than anywhere else in the country. Unlike Headingley, where many of England's batsmen have below-par records, The Oval's been highly productive.

The highest batting average here among England's current squad, though, belongs to Steve Harmison, who averages 119. Andrew Strauss would want to better his average of 37.55 but both Alastair Cook and Andrew Flintoff, who plays his last Test, average more than 50. Paul Collingwood's done considerably better at The Oval, at 39.33, than he has at Headingley, though Ian Bell's average is a disappointing 30.75. Mark Ramprakash's name had been doing the rounds for a possible No.3 spot; he's enjoyed a prolific county season where he's averaged 100.75 in nine Championship games so far, but in Tests his returns at The Oval have been more modest - an average of 33 in seven matches. (Click here for England's individual records at The Oval.)

The relative ease with which batsmen have flourished at this ground is mirrored by the partnership stats for England: each of the first six wickets have averaged over 40 since 2000, with the opening stand topping the list with 59.12. There have also been 12 century-stands for the first five wickets for England in the same duration.

Only four Australians in the current squad have played a Test at The Oval. Ricky Ponting has scored just one half-century in four innings at the ground, averaging 39.25, while his deputy, Michael Clarke, made 25 in his only attempt here. Simon Katich made just 1 in the 2005 Test and Brett Lee, in the two games he's played here, has bagged only two wickets at 127.50. (Click here for Australia's individual records at The Oval.)

Harmison leads the bowling honours at the ground too - he is the highest wicket-taker, with 22 in five Tests at an average of 26. In terms of averages, he is trumped by Stuart Broad, who took five wickets in his only Test at the venue at 20.80. Flintoff bagged 5 for 78 against Australia in 2005 while James Anderson has two four-fors. The track at The Oval takes more spin than other English grounds but Monty Panesar's figures have been disappointing: he's taken seven wickets here at 51.57.

Like Panesar, spinners, for the most part, have had a tough time at The Oval despite the venue's reputation. At grounds that have hosted more than five Tests in England since 2000, spinners have conceded more runs on average here, and at Headingley, than anywhere else. Shane Warne has taken three five-fors and two ten-wicket hauls in two Tests here, and his wickets make for more than a third of those taken by spinners since 2000. While Headingley redresses the balance by aiding seamers considerably, The Oval's been the harshest - again, excluding Cardiff - on fast bowlers since 2000.

In the last nine Tests at The Oval, the side winning the toss has batted on seven occasions, winning four of those games and drawing three. Teams are most productive in the first innings, where they average 45.17 per wicket, explaining the toss trends. The pitch has displayed a tendency to remain true throughout the match, and sides chasing have generally taken advantage, averaging 42.85 in the fourth innings. (Click here for the second and third innings stats.)