Test Records at the Oval, London

The World Test Championship final is upon us and we are down two of the best teams in the red-ball format. India and Australia will face each other at the Oval on 7th June for the final game of the second edition of the World Test Championship. Without a doubt, India and Australia are two of the best cricket teams in the world across all the formats and wherever they face each other in a final game of an ICC tournament, the fireworks are expected to go. The Oval will be in the spotlight for quite some time but historically, the Oval has been an important venue for cricket.

The Oval has a rich history, dating back to 1845 when it became the first ground in England to host international Test cricket. It is the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club and has been a venue for many significant cricket matches over the years. The stadium has a seating capacity of around 25,000 spectators, making it one of the larger cricket grounds in England. It features both historic and modern facilities, including the distinctive Victorian-era Pavilion and the modern OCS Stand.

In this article, we have compiled a list of Test records that were made at the Oval in the past.

1) Highest Total

The 1938 Ashes Test match at The Oval was the fifth and final Test of the series. It took place from August 20th to August 24th, 1938. Australia batted first and scored 350 runs in their innings, with notable contributions from Don Bradman (103) and Jack Fingleton (77). England, in their reply, scored 903 for 7 declared, which is still the highest total in Test cricket history. Len Hutton scored an incredible 364, breaking the record for the highest individual score in Test matches. Unfortunately, the fixture ended up in a draw due to an interruption by rain.

2) Lowest Total at the Oval

It was a very unfortunate day for Australia at the Oval as they were at their lowest performance against England in 1896. Australia chose to bowl first but the decision turned out to be a massive mistake. The whole team was back at the pavilion for just 44 runs while chasing a score of 111 given by England. Bobby Peel and Jack Hearne picked up 6 and 4 wickets respectively and helped the team to score a win.

3) Most Runs by a batsman at the Oval

Leonard Hutton, often known as Len Hutton, was an English cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of the sport. He has scored a total of 1521 runs at the Oval at an average of 89.47. Hutton made his Test debut for England in June 1937 against New Zealand. He played 79 Test matches for England between 1937 and 1955, scoring 6,971 runs at an impressive average of 56.67. At the time of his retirement, Hutton held the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket.

4) Most Wickets by a Bowler at the Oval

One of the greatest allrounders in the world, Sir Ian Botham, holds the record of picking up the most wickets at the Oval. He has picked up 52 Test wickets in 11 fixtures at the Oval. Botham’s most notable performances came in the Ashes series against Australia. In the 1981 Ashes series, he played a pivotal role in England’s historic comeback, famously known as “Botham’s Ashes” or “Botham’s Miracle.” He produced remarkable displays with both bat and ball, including his iconic innings of 149 not out at Headingly and a bowling spell of 5 wickets for 1 run at Edgbaston. Botham’s heroics played a significant part in England’s series victory.