India's tour of England 2025: Kennington Oval Cricket Ground London, Pitch Report, Weather and Records 2025

Kennington Oval Cricket Ground Stadium, London Overview

When it comes to iconic cricketing venues steeped in history, few grounds command the prestige and tradition of the Kennington Oval in London. Commonly known as The Oval, this South London stadium has been a cornerstone of English cricket since it hosted the first-ever Test match in England back in 1880. Located in the borough of Lambeth, The Oval is one of the oldest Test venues in the world and remains a revered stage for international cricket, particularly in the red-ball format.

With a seating capacity of over 27,000, The Oval is the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club and regularly plays host to the final Test of the English summer. Over the decades, it has been the setting for legendary innings, historic rivalries, and emotional farewells. The vibe at The Oval is unmatched during a packed Test day, with the surrounding gas holders adding a classic backdrop that fans associate with vintage English cricket.

Upcoming matches at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground

The Oval Cricket Ground is one of the most iconic venues in not just cricket but also one of the most revered sports venues in the world. Home to the Surrey County, London is gearing up for cricket season as from March to August it is all set to host a flurry of domestic tournaments like The Hundred, County Cricket, Vitality Blast among others while also some big international matches on the calendar.

Aside from all the domestic action, the Oval Cricket Ground in 2025 will witness two key international matches. The first international matches between ENG Women and IND Women in an odi series and the second being the much anticipated 5th Test between India and England.

The Oval Pitch Report

The pitch at The Oval has traditionally been one of the more balanced surfaces in England. Unlike some of the more bowler-friendly tracks in the country, The Oval offers something for everyone. Early in the match, seamers can get assistance with a bit of movement and bounce, especially when conditions are cloudy. However, as the game progresses, the true nature of the pitch comes to the fore, good pace and even bounce make it an ideal surface for stroke-making.

It is one of the few venues in England where batting conditions tend to improve with time, especially from Day 2 onwards. The surface stays firm, allowing batters to play through the line. In the later stages, however, cracks and footmarks may emerge, offering some assistance to spin bowlers, particularly in the fourth innings.

The Oval Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling?

Historically, The Oval has leaned slightly in favour of batters, especially in the middle phases of a Test match. That said, teams winning the toss often face a tough call. Early morning conditions may favour bowlers, especially if there is overhead cloud cover. Fast bowlers can exploit the new ball, but if the pitch is flat and the sun is out, batting first can pay dividends with big first-innings totals.

While it’s not overwhelmingly a bowl-first venue, statistics suggest that teams batting first have enjoyed marginally better results here. That’s largely due to how the pitch behaves over five days, solid for run accumulation early on but increasingly tricky to bat on during the final day or two due to wear and tear.

Day-Wise Pitch Behaviour

Day 1 offers early assistance for seamers, especially with the new ball. Batting becomes easier as the surface settles through the day.

Day 2 is generally considered the best day for batting with true bounce and minimal movement. Day 3 is still good for batting, though spinners begin to get a bit of grip.

On Day 4 the pitch begins to show signs of wear. Variable bounce and some turn come into play. On Day 5 cracks may widen and rough patches become prominent, especially outside the off-stump, assisting spin and reverse swing. Batting becomes a real challenge on this final day.

Toss and Match Outcome Results (Batting first/chasing)

Here’s a look at the outcome of Test matches at Kennington Oval based on the decision made at the toss:

Iconic Test Matches Played at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground, London

Kennington Oval in London, affectionately known as The Oval, is one of the most historic cricket venues in the world. As the venue of the first-ever Test match in England back in 1880, it holds a special place in the annals of the sport. Over the decades, The Oval has been the stage for some of the most iconic and era-defining Test matches, remembered for legendary performances, emotional farewells, and gripping contests between the best teams in the world. Here's a look back at some of the unforgettable moments that have lit up this hallowed turf.

The Birth of the Ashes (1882)

One of the most significant moments in cricket history occurred at The Oval in 1882. In a low-scoring thriller, Australia stunned England by just 7 runs in what would later be referred to as the match that gave birth to the Ashes rivalry. England, needing only 85 runs to win, were bowled out for 77, thanks to Fred Spofforth’s incredible spell of 7 for 44. The shock defeat led a mock obituary being published in The Sporting Times, declaring that English cricket had died and “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” Thus, the Ashes legend was born.

Len Hutton’s 364 (1938)

In 1938, Len Hutton etched his name in cricketing folklore with a monumental innings of 364 against Australia at The Oval. It was the highest individual score in Test cricket at the time and remains England’s best to date. His marathon knock helped England pile up a record total of 903/7 declared, resulting in an innings victory. Hutton’s technical brilliance and stamina over nearly 800 balls marked one of the most dominant batting displays in the history of the game.

Michael Holding’s Fire and Fury (1976)

The summer of 1976 saw one of the fiercest fast bowling spells at The Oval, delivered by West Indies’ Michael Holding. On a lightning-fast pitch, Holding claimed 14 wickets in the match, with figures of 8 for 92 in the second innings—his career-best. The West Indies humiliated England by 231 runs, and the fiery pace and intimidation brought by Holding and the Windies quicks heralded a golden era of Caribbean dominance in world cricket.

India’s Historic Series Win (1971)

India's 1971 tour of England culminated in a historic victory at The Oval, sealing their first-ever series win on English soil. Chasing 173 for victory, India got over the line thanks to valuable contributions from the likes of Gundappa Viswanath and Farokh Engineer. The match was set up by Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s six-wicket haul in the second innings. This win was a watershed moment in Indian cricket history and signalled their arrival as a competitive force overseas.

Stuart Broad’s Farewell Fairytale (2023)

In what turned out to be a storybook farewell, Stuart Broad ended his illustrious Test career at The Oval in 2023 during the final Ashes Test. After announcing his retirement mid-match, Broad hit a six off his final ball in international cricket and then, fittingly, took the final wicket to secure England’s win. The emotional scenes and Broad’s dream exit added yet another unforgettable chapter to The Oval’s rich Test legacy

Kennington Oval Cricket Ground Test matches Stats & Records 

Here's a look at all the key and important Test match records at the Kennington Oval Cricket Ground in London over the years

Team Records at Kennington Oval

Highest and Lowest Totals at Kennington Oval, London

The Oval Cricket Ground has witnessed some iconic moments in cricket history. The highest Test score at the Surrey County stadium was set by England of 903/7 vs Australia in 1938while the lowest total was by India at just 58 runs. 

Most Successful Teams at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground 

When it comes to pure winning percentage Sri Lanka have a 100% record at the Kennington Oval Cricket Ground having won both their games. But two Test match is not enough of a sample size. Hence the home team of England with a winning percentage of 42.5 are the most successful side at the Oval while Pakistan have 50  percent winning rate in their 10 matches. 

Most Runs by a player at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground, London

Legendary English batter Leonard Hutton is the player with most runs at the iconic Oval Cricket Ground in London. In just 19 games, Hutton has scored 1521 runs at an average of 89.4 with a tremendous knock of 364. 

Most Centuries by a player at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground, London

Just like Leonard Hutton have dominated the scoring charts, he's also dominated the century honours board. With 4 centuries he is the player who has scored the most hundreds at the ground. 

Most Wickets by a player at Kennington Oval Cricket Ground, London

Legendary English pacer Ian Botham is the playe who has picked up the most wickets at the Oval Cricket Ground with 52 games in just 11 matches at an average of 26.51.