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Tests at The Oval

By Mohandas Menon

The Surrey County Cricket Club, which was formed in 1845, has the Kennington Oval, now known as the AMP Oval, as its home ground and headquarters. In the 1840s William Baker, treasurer of the Montpelier Cricket Club, took a lease on a 10 acres of ground, then used as a market garden at the Oval, in Kennington, London. This land was then converted to a cricket ground.

First-class matches have been played at this ground since 1846. The ground has the distinction of hosting the first ever Test match in England in 1880.

Since then 84 matches have played here — all by the host team, which has won 33, lost 18 and drawn 33, while India has played eight matches here since its first in 1936. India has won a Test in 1971 - its first ever in England and has lost two (in 1936 & 1959). Rest of the five matches were drawn.

Highest team scores: 903-7 decl., Eng v Aus 1938; 708 Pak v Eng, 1987; 701 Aus v Eng, 1934.

Best for India: 606-9 decl., Ind v Eng, 1990.

Lowest team scores: 44, Aua v Eng, 1896; 52, Eng v Aus, 1948.

Lowest for India: 98 vs Eng, 1952.

Highest individual scores: L. Hutton 364 Eng v Aus, 1938; I.V.A. Richards 291, WI v Eng, 1976

Note: In all 137 centuries have been scored.

Best for India: S.M. Gavaskar 221, 1979.

Best bowling (in an innings): D.E. Malcolm 9-57, Eng v SA, 1994. M. Murlitharan 9-65 SL v Eng 1998.

Note: 129 five-wicket hauls have been achieved.

Best for India: B.S. Chandrasekhar 6-38, 1971.

Best bowling (in a match): M. Muralitharan 16-220, SL v Eng 1998; F.R. Spofforth 14-90, Aus v Eng, 1882; M.A. Holding 14-149, WI v Eng, 1976; S.F. Barnes 13-57, Eng v SA, 1912.

Note: 25 ten-plus-wicket hauls in a match have been achieved.

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