Pitch Report: 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup – The Oval, London

Pitch Report
The Oval general view generic 2019 PA

The Oval: Overview

Established: 1845
Capacity: 25,500
Floodlights: Yes
Ends: Pavilion End, Vauxhall End
Home Teams: Surrey, England

2019 Cricket World Cup fixtures:
May 30, 1030 BST/1500 IST: England v South Africa
June 2, 1030 BST/1500 IST: South Africa v Bangladesh
June 5, 1330 BST/1800 IST: Bangladesh v New Zealand (D/N)
June 9, 1030 BST/1500 IST: India v Australia
June 15, 1030 BST/1500 IST: Sri Lanka v Australia

The Oval is a venue blessed with a rich sporting history, which includes playing host to the first Test match on English soil, a game in which WG Grace scored a century in England’s win against Australia in 1880. Significantly it was at The Oval that the legend of the Ashes was born and the great Sir Donald Bradman played his final Test innings at the ground.

Apart from cricket, the venue was also host to the first official international football match, as well as the first rugby international in England in the early 1870s. Another notable fixture was the first ever FA Cup final in 1872.

The venue was the birthplace of the Ashes and has since played host to some dramatic proceedings. From the 1968 Ashes Test when supporters pitched in to mop a sodden ground in time for Derek Underwood to bowl the Australians out to square the series, to Kevin Pietersen’s match-saving – and series-winning – 158 in 2005 against the same opposition, The Oval’s history is sparkled with magical moments and memories.

It too was the scene of Inzamam-ul-Haq and company’s defiant walk-off in 2006 after umpire Darrell Hair’s accusations broke the proverbial camel’s back.

A spectacular new stand to complement the huge pavilion has made for a more pleasant viewing experience, and the famous old ground continues to be developed, with floodlights the latest new arrival in South London. The most well known feature, of course, remain the gasometers to the east of the ground.

The Oval hosts five round-robin games during the World Cup, including the tournament opener between England and South Africa, with the other standout fixture India’s clash with Australia. The Aussies, along with South Africa and Bangladesh all play two of their nine group games at Surrey’s home.

The Oval: ODI statistics

Matches: 68
Won batting first: 26 (40%)
Won batting second: 39 (60%)
No result/abandoned: 3

Won toss: W35 L30 NR3
Won toss, batted: W7 L11 NR2
Won toss, fielded: W28 L19 NR1

Highest total: New Zealand 398/5 (50/50 overs) v England, June 12 2015
Lowest total: England 103 (41/50 overs) v South Africa, May 22 1999

300+ totals: 19

Runs per over: 4.94
Runs per wicket: 33.51

The Oval: Last 10 ODIs

May 8 2019: England v Pakistan (80/2, 19/41 overs) – no result
June 13 2018: England (218/7, 44/50 overs) bt Australia (214, 50 overs) by three wickets
Sept 27 2017: England (258/5, 35.1/35.1 overs) bt West Indies (356/5, 50/50 overs) by six runs (DLS method)
June 18 2017: Pakistan (338/4, 50/50 overs) bt India (158, 30.3/50 overs) by 180 runs
June 11 2017: India (193/2, 38/50 overs) bt South Africa (191, 44.3/50 overs) by eight wickets
June 8 2017: Sri Lanka (322/3, 48.4 overs) bt India (321/6, 50/50 overs) by seven wickets
June 5 2017: Bangladesh (182, 44.3 overs) v Australia (83/1, 16/50 overs) – no result
June 3 2017: South Africa (299/6, 50/50 overs) bt Sri Lanka (203, 41.3/50 overs) by 96 runs
June 1 2017: England (308/2, 47.2/50 overs) bt Bangladesh (305/6, 50/50 overs) by eight wickets
June 29 2016: England (309/4, 40.1/42 overs) bt Sri Lanka (305/5, 42/42 overs) by six wickets (DLS method)

The Oval: ODI record by country

England: P47 W28 L17 NR2
South Africa: P9 W3 L6
Bangladesh: P3 W0 L2 NR1
New Zealand: P7 W3 L4
India: P15 W5 L9 NR1
Australia: P15 W8 L6 NR1
Sri Lanka: P12 W5 L7

The Oval: Individual ODI stats

Centuries: 36
Five-wicket hauls: 8
Highest score: 176* (135), Evin Lewis (West Indies) v England, Sept 27 2017
Best bowling: 10-0-42-6, Umar Gul (Pakistan) v England, Sept 17 2010

2019 Cricket World Cup Pitch Report The Oval

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