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The Oval

The Oval
Kia Oval Pavilion.jpg
The Oval Pavilion
Ground information
Location Kennington
London, SE11
United Kingdom
Establishment 1845
Capacity 26,000
Owner Duchy of Cornwall
Operator Surrey County Cricket Club
Tenants Surrey County Cricket Club
End names
Pavilion End
Vauxhall End
International information
First Test 6–8 September 1880:
 England v  Australia
Last Test 11–15 August 2016:
 England v  Pakistan
First ODI 7 September 1973:
 England v  West Indies
Last ODI 29 June 2016:
 England v  Sri Lanka
First T20I 28 June 2007:
 England v  West Indies
Last T20I 20 May 2014:
 England v  Sri Lanka
Team information
Surrey (1846 – present)
Corinthian-Casuals (football) (1950–1963)
As of 13 August 2016
Source: ESPNcricinfo

The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London. The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. It was the first ground in England to host international Test cricket in September 1880. The final Test match of the English season is traditionally played there.

In addition to cricket, The Oval has hosted a number of other historically significant sporting events. In 1870, it staged England's first international football match, versus Scotland. It hosted the first FA Cup final in 1872, as well as those between 1874 and 1892. In 1876, it held both the England v Wales and England v Scotland rugby international matches, and in 1877, rugby's first Varsity match.

In 1844, Kennington Oval was a market garden owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy was willing to lease the land for the purpose of a cricket ground, and on 10 March 1845 the first lease, which the club later assumed, was issued to a Mr. William Houghton (then president of the progenitor Montpelier Cricket Club) by the Otter Trustees who held the land from the Duchy "to convert it into a subscription cricket ground", for 31 years at a rent of £120 per annum plus taxes amounting to £20. The original contract for turfing The Oval cost £300; the 10,000 grass turfs came from Tooting Common and were laid in the Spring of 1845 allowing for the first cricket match to be played in May 1845. Hence, Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) was established in 1845.


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