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England v South Africa, Fifth Test, 4-8 September 2003
The Oval Cricket Ground, Kennington, London
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The Oval was England's number one Test venue in the latter part of the 19th century and has been the scene of some remarkable cricketing achievements.
It was once a 10-acre market garden with its name deriving from the surrounding streets, rather than the shape of the playing area.
The first-ever Test in England was played at The Oval in 1880 when England overcame the Australians by five wickets.
And two years after that inaugural Test, The Oval witnessed the creation of the Ashes following Australia's first Test victory in England.
Matches between the old enemy have seen many highlights with Australia notching a record 701 in 1934 when Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman scored 266 and 244 respectively.
The pair put up 451 for the second wicket - a record partnership for Australia in all Test cricket.
Four years later Len Hutton struck 364 runs as England amassed 903-7 - a record total score for any Test side playing in England.
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The Oval looks splendid on a wonderful day in the sunshine
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The ground was also witness to the remarkable occasion of Bradman's last appearance in Test cricket in 1948 - when he was bowled for a duck needing just four runs to claim an average of exactly 100.
England enjoy a reasonable record at the ground, and a remarkable one against South Africa.
The tourists are the only major international team to have never won a match at the venue, losing four of the 11 Tests they have played.
The last came in 1994 when they were blown away by Devon Malcolm's ground record figures of 9-57 in the second innings.
That victory was enough to level the series and Michael Vaughan's men will be looking for a similar result as the Oval hosts its traditional end of series Test for the summer.
The ground, which is set to undergo intense redevelopment, houses an extensive collection of famous paintings in its pavilion and library.
It also possesses the world-renowned Hobbs Gates at the main entrance - named after John Berry Hobbs, the Surrey and England player who was the first professional cricketer to be knighted.
Tickets
Tickets for the fifth day will be available on the day itself - not before. Entry is £10 while it will be free for concessions.
Stat pack
85 Tests
England: 33 wins; 18 defeats; 34 draws
Highest score: 364
Len Hutton; England v Australia 1938
Best bowling (innings): 9-57
Devon Malcolm; England v South Africa 1994
Best bowling (match): 16-220
Muttiah Muralitharan; Sri Lanka v England 1998
Record partnership: 451
Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman (2nd wkt);
Australia v England 1934
England v South Africa
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FRINDALL'S FASCINATING FACT
Staged the first FA Cup final (Royal Engineers v Wanderers in 1872) and saw outfield converted into a temporary prisoner of war camp in 1944
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11 Tests:
England: 4 wins; 7 draws
Highest score:
Eng: 219; Marcus Trescothick 2003
SA: 189*; Bruce Mitchell 1947
Best bowling figures:
Eng: 9-57; Devon Malcolm 1994
SA: 7-84; Aubrey Faulkner 1912
Best match figures:
Eng: 13-57 (5-28 & 8-29); Sydney Barnes 1912
SA: 8-99 (3-39 & 5-60); Hugh Tayfield 1955
Record partnership:
Eng: 290; Geoff Pullar & Colin Cowdrey (1st wkt) 1960
SA: 227; Herschelle Gibbs & Gary Kirsten (2nd wkt) 2003
Directions
The Oval is on the A202, just south of Vauxhall Bridge, near the junctions with the A23 and A3, which runs north from Clapham.
Be warned that the ground lies on the edge of London's congestion charge zone.
Oval station (Northern Line) is the closest tube stop to the ground, a mere 200 metres from the pavilion.
Kennington (Northern) and Vauxhall (Victoria) are also within walking distance, with overland services from the south and south-west stopping at Vauxhall en route to Waterloo.
Food & drink
The Oval is not close to any of London's premier culinary areas, but that did not prevent John Major from finding his favourite restaurant nearby.
The former Prime Minister and Surrey CCC President is a regular visitor to Gandhi's on Kennington Road, where his curry of choice is Chicken Madras.
What the area lacks in restaurants, it more than makes up for in pubs with plenty dotted around the ground.
The closest is The Cricketers, behind the Peter May stand, which although now a night shelter for the homeless throws open its doors during a Test match to sell cans.
If it rains
If the clouds are high, but the drizzle persistent, you could give the Millennium Wheel a whirl two tube stops away at Waterloo for wonderful views of the capital.
Anything heavier and the Tate Gallery, Imperial War Museum and Houses of Parliament are all nearby and well worth a visit.
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MMIX
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