ICC World Twenty20 Venues
It is tradition that a Test series in England always ends at the Oval. This ground has witnessed many historic matches like the dramatic one-wicket win by England in 1902 inspired by Gilbert Jessop's hundred, and Australia's 701 in 1930 as Don Bradman (244) and Bill Ponsford (266) put on 451 for the second wicket.
The ground is dominated by gasometers on the eastern side; and until fairly recently the pavilion, built in 1890, and the Vauxhall stand were the only structures of any significance, with banks of open and fairly uncomfortable seating making up the rest of the spectator facilities.
Owned by the Duchy of Cornwall (who is the Prince of Wales, hence his feathers have appeared on Surrey's badge since 1915), The Oval came about in the 1790s when an oval road was laid round what was then a cabbage patch. When a subsequent market garden failed, the land was opened as a cricket ground in 1845 after 10,000 turfs were brought in from Tooting Common. It has been Surrey's headquarters ever since, even though it has been well outside the county boundary for many years.
