Kennington Oval

Kennington Oval in numbers

Kennington Oval, in London, England, has staged 106 Tests and 77 one-day internationals in CricArcade's archives. The first was a Test between England and Australia in 1880, and the most recent international here was in 2025. Its Tests span 140 years and more.

Of the 106 Tests played at Kennington Oval, 37 were drawn (35%), 40 won by the side batting first and 29 by the side batting second. That is 58% of decided Tests to the side batting first, a ground where setting the pace has paid. England have played 105 of those Tests and won 45, lost 23 and drawn or tied 37, a win rate of 43%. The most frequent visitors have been Australia (40) and South Africa (16). The average first-innings total was 310 in the 1880s (5 Tests) and 265 in the 2020s (4 Tests), peaking at 476 in the 1930s. Its busiest decade was the 1950s, with 10 Tests, against 10 in the 1960s. Leonard Hutton has made more Test runs here than anyone, 1,521 in 19 innings with 4 hundreds, and Ian Botham has taken the most wickets, 52 in 11 Tests. The highest total is England's 903 for 7 in 1938; the lowest completed innings Australia's 44 in 1896; the highest individual score Leonard Hutton's 364 against Australia in 1938; the best bowling Devon Malcolm's 9 for 57 in 1994. The heaviest defeat was Australia's, by an innings and 579 runs against England in 1938. The closest finish: England won by 1 wicket (1902).

Of the 77 ODIs played at Kennington Oval, sides batting first have won 31 and chasing sides 43; 3 produced no result. Only 42% of decided ODIs have gone to the side batting first; chasing has been the stronger hand here. England have played 52 of those ODIs and won 32, lost 18 and tied or had no result in 2, a win rate of 62%. The most frequent visitors have been Australia (17) and India (17). The average first-innings total was 228 in the 1970s (8 ODIs) and 243 in the 2020s (4 ODIs), peaking at 263 in the 2010s. Its busiest decade was the 2010s, with 29 ODIs, against 19 in the 2000s. Eoin Morgan has made more ODI runs here than anyone, 705 in 15 innings, and James Anderson has taken the most wickets, 30 in 15 ODIs. The highest total is New Zealand's 398 for 5 in 2015; the lowest completed innings England's 103 in 1999; the highest individual score Ben Stokes's 182 against New Zealand in 2023; the best bowling Jasprit Bumrah's 6 for 19 in 2022. The widest margin by runs was New Zealand's 210-run win over United States in 2004. The closest finish: New Zealand won by 1 wicket (2008).

Tests at Kennington Oval

106 Tests, 1880 to 2023. The first was England v Australia on 6 September 1880: England won by 5 wickets.

First-innings totals by decade

Closest finishes

• England won by 1 wicket (1902)

ODIs at Kennington Oval

77 ODIs, 1973 to 2025. The first was England v West Indies on 7 September 1973: West Indies won by 8 wickets (with 76 balls remaining).

First-innings totals by decade

Closest finishes

• New Zealand won by 1 wicket (with 0 balls remaining) (2008)

Most recent matches

• West Indies v England (ODI, 3 June 2025): England won by 7 wickets
• England v New Zealand (ODI, 13 September 2023): England won by 181 runs
• England v Australia (Test, 27 July 2023): England won by 49 runs
• Australia v India (Test, 7 June 2023): Australia won by 209 runs
• South Africa v England (Test, 8 September 2022): England won by 9 wickets
• England v India (ODI, 12 July 2022): India won by 10 wickets (with 188 balls remaining)
• India v England (Test, 2 September 2021): India won by 157 runs
• Sri Lanka v England (ODI, 1 July 2021): England won by 8 wickets (with 42 balls remaining)
• England v Australia (Test, 12 September 2019): England won by 135 runs
• Australia v Sri Lanka (ODI, 15 June 2019): Australia won by 87 runs