The Oval

An illustrated guide to The Oval - one of cricket's most iconic venues and where the legend of the Ashes was born.

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The Oval is one of the world's great cricket grounds. It was here in south London in 1882 that the legend of the Ashes was born, and many of the game's most memorable events have taken place here, including Don Bradman's duck in his final innings and Kevin Pietersen's coruscating 158 that sealed England's 2005 Ashes win. Home to Surrey County Cricket Club since it opened in 1845, the Oval also staged England's first international football match and the first FA Cup Final, and has hosted everything from American football to rock concerts. This official guidebook provides a fascinating introduction to the Oval, covering its history, architecture and the people who have made it what it is today, from ground staff to sporting heroes. It is illustrated throughout, with images ranging from archival photography of the ground's earliest days to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final.