This is where it all started. The first-ever Test on English soil was played here in September 1880, resulting in a five-wicket win for England over Australia, with WG Grace scoring a century on debut, and this is where a Test series in England traditionally concludes.
More importantly, this is the historic venue where the Ashes legend was born a few years after the first Test in August 1882. England fell from 51 for 2 to 78 all out while chasing only 85 runs to win. The Sporting Times published its famous mock obituary the next morning, and the legend was born.
Numerous historic games have taken place at the Oval. Bradman’s farewell duck in 1948; Denis Compton’s boundary that allowed England to win the Ashes in 1953; Michael Holding’s 14 wickets on a featherbed in 1976; Devon Malcolm’s 9 for 57 against Australia in 1938; Australia’s 701 in 1930 due to a partnership of 451 runs between Don Bradman (244) and Bill Ponsford (266); England’s dramatic one-wicket victory in 1902 spurred on by Gilbert Jessop.
Also read: WTC Final: The Oval Pitch Looks Threatening for Indian Batters- See Photos
Here we have covered The Oval Test records before the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia.
The Oval Test Records
The Oval has hosted 105 Test matches so far in its illustrious history. The team batting first has won on 38 occasions on the venue, while the team batting second has won on 29 occasions. The average first innings score at the venue is 343 runs, followed by 304 runs, 238 runs, and 156 runs in the second, third and fourth innings of a Test match, respectively.
The highest total at the Kennington Oval is 907 runs in Test cricket. The score was notched up by the home team England against the Australians. On the other hand, the lowest score at the venue is 44 runs which was scored by Australia against England.
