The famous gasometers, which are now listed buildings.

The Oval is an international cricket ground in Kennington, London. It is often referred to as the 'Kennington Oval' (not to be confused with Kensington Oval in Barbados), but in recent years has been officially titled as the 'Fosters Oval', 'AMP Oval,' and, currently, as the 'Brit Oval' due to various commercial sponsorship deals. It is located in the London Borough of Lambeth. The ground is nicknamed the Grand Old Lady due to its role in the development of modern sports.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 448 KB)The famous gasholders at the Oval, as photographed by self on 17 April 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 448 KB)The famous gasholders at the Oval, as photographed by self on 17 April 2005. ... Gasometer at West Ham. ... Bowler Shaun Pollock bowls to batsman Michael Hussey. ... Test cricket grounds (stadiums) by nation: Categories: Cricket grounds | Lists | Test cricket ... Kennington is an area of south London, situated within the London Borough of Lambeth. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Kensington Oval is located to the west of the capital-city Bridgetown on the island of Barbados. ... The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Inner London. ...

It is the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club, and also traditionally hosts the final Test match of each English summer in late August or early September. The Oval was the first ground in Britain and second in the world (after the MCG) to host an international cricket match. Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) is an English first-class cricket team, based at The Oval cricket ground in south London. ... A Test match between South Africa and England in January 2005. ... Joseph McG McGinty Nichol (born November 30, 1968) is an American film producer and director. ...

The nearest tube station is also called Oval, but the ground can also be easily reached from Vauxhall. Oval tube station Interior of Oval tube station Oval tube station in Kennington is a station on the Northern Line of the London Underground between Stockwell and Kennington stations. ...     Categories: Victoria Line stations | London Underground stubs | London railway stations | British railway stations ...

History

The clock outside the Members' Entrance.

The Members Pavilion.

In 1844, Kennington Oval was a market garden.[[1]] The Oval was (and still is) owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. Surrey County Cricket Club was set up in 1845. The Duchy was willing to grant a lease of the land for the purpose of a cricket ground, and, on 10 March 1845, the Club signed a lease with the Otter Trustees, who held the land from the Duchy of Cornwall, 'to convert it into a subscription Cricket Ground', for 31 years at a rent of £120 per annum plus taxes (£20 more). The original contract for turfing the Oval cost £300; 10,000 grass turfs came from Tooting Common. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 475 KB)Clock outside the Pavilion at the Oval, photographed by self on 17 April 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 475 KB)Clock outside the Pavilion at the Oval, photographed by self on 17 April 2005. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Jan. ... Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation in World War II, which took place in September 1944. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) is an English first-class cricket team, based at The Oval cricket ground in south London. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Tooting Commons consist of two adjacent areas of common land lying between Balham, Streatham and Tooting, in south west London - Tooting Bec Common and Tooting Graveney Common. ...

In 1868, 20,000 spectators gathered at the Oval[[2]] for the first game of the 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England, the first tour of England by any foreign side.[[3]] Media:Example. ... The Aboriginal cricket team at the MCG in 1867. ...

Thanks to C. W. Alcock, the Secretary of Surrey from 1872 to 1907, the first ever Test match in England (and second in the world after the MCG)[[4]] was played at the Oval in 1880 between England and Australia. In 1882, Australia won the Ashes Test by seven runs within two days. The Sporting Times printed a mocking obituary notice for English cricket, which duly led to The Ashes trophy, which is still contested whenever England plays Australia. The first Test double-century was scored at the Oval in 1884 by Australia's Billy Murdoch.[[5]] Charles William Alcock (December 2, 1842 - February 26, 1907) was a very influential English sports administrator and player. ... Joseph McG McGinty Nichol (born November 30, 1968) is an American film producer and director. ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The logo of the England Cricket Team which shows the three Lions of England below a five-pointed crown The England cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales, operating under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England and Australia - it is international crickets most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882. ... The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England and Australia - it is international crickets most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882. ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... William (Billy) Lloyd Murdoch (born 18 October 1854 in Sandhurst, Victoria - died 18 February 1911 in Melbourne, Victoria) was an Australian cricketer, probably best remembered for captaining the Australian tours to England in 1880, 1882 (when the Ashes legend was born), and 1884. ...

In 1907, South Africa became the 2nd visiting Test team to play a Test match at this venue. In 1928, West Indies played its first Test match at this venue followed by New Zealand in 1931. In 1936, India became the 5th foreign visiting Test side to play at the Oval, followed by Pakistan in 1954 and Sri Lanka in 1998. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh are yet to play a Test match at the venue. Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Learie Constantine, was one of the first great West Indian players. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

During the Second World War, the Oval was intended for use as a prisoner of war camp, although it was never employed as such. The Oval is referenced by the poet Philip Larkin in his poem about the First World War, MCMXIV.^[1] Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Philip Arthur Larkin, CH, CBE, FRSL, (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist and jazz critic. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... MCMXIV (1914) is a poem written by English poet Philip Larkin. ...

The first One-Day International match at this venue was played on September 7, 1973 between England and West Indies. It had the privilege of hosting matches of the 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999 World Cups. It also hosted five of the fifteen matches in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, including the final. No floodlit day/night international match has been played here to date, although Surrey have played several floodlit one-day matches. In fact, Surrey's ground is noted as having the first floodlights at a sport arena in the form of gas-lamps dating back to 1889 ^[2] The famous gasometers at The Oval are actually younger than the ground by several years, having been built circa 1853. There has been much speculation of late as to whether they should be demolished, however many believe they are part of The Oval's landscape and therefore their future looks secure. One-day International (ODI) is a form of cricket, which is played over 50 overs per side between two national cricket teams. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... The Cricket World Cup in 1975 (aka Prudential Cup, 1975) was the first edition of the tournament. ... The Cricket World Cup in 1979 (aka Prudential Cup, 1979) was the second edition of the tournament. ... The Cricket World Cup in 1983 (aka Prudential Cup, 1983) was the third edition of the tournament. ... The 1999 Cricket World Cup was hosted primarily by England, but Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands also hosted some games. ... ICC Champions Trophy 2006 The ICC Champions Trophy is crickets one-day international tournament second in importance only to the Cricket World Cup. ...

End names

The names of the ends are the Pavilion End [6] and the Vauxhall End.

21st century redevelopment

The new OCS Stand as pictured from the Pavilion directly opposite.

At the end of the 2002 cricket season, Surrey started redeveloping the Vauxhall End. The development included knocking down the outdated Surridge, Fender, Jardine and Peter May north stands, [7] and creating in their place a large, state-of-the-art, four tier grandstand known as the OCS Stand. This work was completed in May 2005, increasing ground capacity to around 23,000. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 317 KB)The new OCS Stand at the Vauxhall End of the Oval, as photographed from the top seating in the Pavilion on 17 April 2005 by self. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 317 KB)The new OCS Stand at the Vauxhall End of the Oval, as photographed from the top seating in the Pavilion on 17 April 2005 by self. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The OCS Stand as pictured from the Bedser Stand

In January 2007 Surrey announced plans to increase capacity by a further 2,000 seats, this time by redeveloping the Pavilion End. This is subject to the planning application being approved by Lambeth Council. The Lock, Laker and Peter May South stands will be replaced with a new stand, which will have a hotel backing on to it. The Surrey Tavern at the entrance to the ground will be demolished and a new pedestrian plaza will be created in its place, improving access to the ground and opening up views of the historic pavilion. It is hoped that this work will be completed in time for the 2009 Ashes Test match. ^[3] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 310 KB)The new OCS Stand as photographed from the Bedser Stand at the Oval. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2080x1544, 310 KB)The new OCS Stand as photographed from the Bedser Stand at the Oval. ... The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in inner southwest London. ... The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England and Australia - it is international crickets most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882. ...

Football

The Oval has also been an important site in the historical development of football, before the game had its own separate national stadium. On March 16, 1872, The Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 to win the first ever FA Cup. The Oval hosted all subsequent FA Cup finals (1873 excluded) up until 1892. A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Wanderers Football Club were an amateur football club, who were one of the leading clubs in English football in the 1860s and 1870s. ... The Royal Engineers AFC is a football team founded in 1863, under the leadership of Major Marindin of the Corps of Royal Engineers. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

A year after that first FA Cup final, on March 8, 1873, the England national team played its first home match at the Oval, against Scotland. Their 4-2 win was the first victory in international competition. England would continue to play occasionally at the Oval until 1889. is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11 - 0 Ireland (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat Uruguay 7 - 0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The Oval is one of two grounds (Bramall Lane in Sheffield being the other) to have staged both England Football and Cricket internationals, and also FA Cup Finals. The Oval also hosted the second ever Rugby Union international between England and Scotland in 1872 (the first was hosted at Raeburn Place a year earlier). Bramall Lane Stadium is the home of Sheffield United Football Club in Sheffield, England and is the oldest major stadium in the world still to be hosting professional football matches. ... Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. ... A rugby union scrum. ... The first international rugby union game was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh on March 27, 1871 between England and Scotland. ...

In recent years, the Oval holds an exhibition match for Australian rules football in October each year, between better performing Australian teams or to show the rivalry between certain clubs. In 2005, a record crowd for Australian rules football in England (18,884) saw the Fremantle Football Club defeat the West Coast Eagles. Australian rules football has been introduced to a wide range of places around Australia and the world since the codes inception in 1848. ... High marking is a key skill and spectator attribute of Aussie Rules Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Aussie Rules Football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of football... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers and known unofficially as the Fremantle Dockers and informally as Freo, is one of 16 teams in the Australian Football League. ... West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. ...

Baseball

The Oval is currently being considered as a potential site to host a small number of regular season Major League Baseball games during the 2007 season. MLB is also considering sites in Rome, Paris, Munich, Germany, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Regular season games previously have been played in international sites in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Japan. In the 19th century The Oval used to host baseball exhibition games.[[8]] Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) The Eiffel Tower in Paris, as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Munich: Frauenkirche and Town Hall steeple Munich (German: München pronunciation) is the state capital of the German Bundesland of Bavaria. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... Nickname: Motto: Sterker door strijd (Stronger through Struggle) Location of Rotterdam Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province South Holland Government  - Mayor Ivo Opstelten  - Aldermen Jeannette Baljeu Hamit Karakus Orhan Kaya Lucas Bolsius Jantine Kriens Dominic Schrijer Roelf de Boer Leonard Geluk Area [1]  - City 319 km²  (123. ...

See "MLB checking out European venues for games in '07", ESPN, September 8, 2005. 

The ground has hosted many other sports including hockey as well as concerts too.[[9]] Hockey is any of a family of sports in which two teams compete by trying to maneuver a ball, or a hard, round disc called a puck, into the opponents net or goal, using a hockey stick. ...

See also

Cricket Portal

• List of cricket grounds in England and Wales
• List of Test cricket grounds
• History of Test cricket (to 1883)
• History of Test cricket (1884 to 1889)
• History of Test cricket (1890 to 1900)
• Gasworks Gallery, next to the ground

Image File history File links Portal. ... A List of cricket grounds in England and Wales, both Test and county. ... The first Test cricket match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) situated in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Australia, in 1877. ... For more coverage of cricket, see the cricket portal. ... For more coverage of cricket, see the cricket portal. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

External links

• Surrey Cricket web site
• Cricinfo page on The Oval
• Aerial view of The Oval at Google Maps

Coordinates: 51°29′1.39″N, 0°6′53.93″W A Test match between South Africa and England in January 2005. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... Edgbaston Cricket Ground (sometimes called Edgbaston Stadium) is a cricket venue in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England. ... Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley. ... The Pavilion The Grand Stand Match in progress The Media Centre at Lords Cricket Ground This memorial stone to Lord Harris is in the Harris Garden at Lords Lords Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in St Johns Wood in London, at grid reference TQ268827. ... Lancashire CCC - main entrance Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, England has been the home of Lancashire cricket team since 1856 and of the Lancashire County Cricket Club since it was founded in 1864. ... The Riverside County Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...