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The Oval facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
For football ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland, see The Oval (Belfast).
OCS Stand from the Bedser Stand at the Oval
The view of the Oval Cricket Ground

The Oval is a famous sports ground in London, England. It is mostly known for hosting important cricket matches. The Oval is the home ground for the Surrey County Cricket Club. They play many of their games here against other teams from different counties. Also, the England national cricket team often plays its final home Test matches of the summer season at The Oval.

This historic ground is located in Kennington, South London. It's easy to get to The Oval using public transport. The closest tube station is also called Oval. You can also reach the ground easily from Vauxhall station.

What is The Oval Cricket Ground?

The Oval is one of the oldest and most famous cricket grounds in the world. It has been a key place for cricket since 1845. The ground is shaped like an oval, which is how it got its name. It has seen many exciting matches and historic moments in cricket.

Who Plays at The Oval?

The main team that calls The Oval home is the Surrey County Cricket Club. They are one of England's most successful county teams. Besides county games, The Oval also hosts international matches. These include Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Why is The Oval Important for Cricket?

The Oval is very important in cricket history. It hosted the first ever Test match in England in 1880. This was between England and Australia. It is also famous for being the birthplace of "The Ashes" series. This happened after England lost to Australia at The Oval in 1882. A newspaper then wrote a funny obituary for English cricket, saying its "ashes" would be taken to Australia.

Getting to The Oval

The Oval is easy to find in Kennington, South London. Many fans travel to matches using London's excellent public transport system.

Nearest Tube and Train Stations

The closest underground station is Oval, which is on the Northern Line. It's just a short walk from the station to the ground. Another nearby station is Vauxhall station, which serves both the Victoria Line tube and National Rail trains. This makes it convenient for people coming from different parts of London and beyond.

Images for kids

  • The Oval Clock

    The clock by the Members' entrance to the pavilion

  • Cricket, WG Grace, 1891- Kennington Oval

    The pavilion end in 1891

  • OCS Stand (Surrey v Yorkshire in foreground)

    Surrey v Yorkshire (OCS stand in background)

  • Gasholders at the Oval

    The Oval Gasholder

  • Fußballgeschichte (1872)

    An illustration of an 1872 England vs Scotland rugby match. The background right shows the distinctive gas holder of The Oval

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: The Oval para niños

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