15 Facts About The Oval

1.

The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, located in the borough of Lambeth, in south London.

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2.

The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845.

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3.

In 1844, the site of the Kennington The Oval was a cabbage patch and market garden owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

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4.

The Oval, thereby, became the second ground to stage a Test, after Melbourne Cricket Ground .

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5.

In 1936, India became the fifth foreign visiting Test side to play at The Oval, followed by Pakistan in 1954 and Sri Lanka in 1998.

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6.

The Oval is referenced by the poet Philip Larkin in his poem about the First World War, "MCMXIV".

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7.

The Oval once held the record for the largest playing area of any Test venue in the world.

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8.

The Oval hosted its hundredth Test, against South Africa, on 27 July 2017, becoming the fourth Test venue in the world after Lord's, MCG and SCG to do so.

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9.

North-western end of The Oval is traditionally known as the Vauxhall End, as it is nearer to the district of Vauxhall and its railway station.

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10.

The Oval was an important site in the historical development of football in England.

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11.

The Oval was the venue for the first representative football match in the world on 5 March 1870, England against Scotland, organised by The Football Association.

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12.

The Oval was the site of the first FA Cup final, and both semi-final matches.

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13.

Between 1872 and 1879, The Oval held seven full cap international rugby union matches.

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14.

The Oval was reported to have been full, and the match was attended by the Prince of Wales who greeted the players following the game.

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15.

In 1987, the Oval hosted what became known as the Battle of Britain between Carlton and North Melbourne, which included numerous fights and future multiple AFL Premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, at the time only a teenager, breaking Ian Aitken's jaw.

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