Kensington Oval

Kensington Oval, Saint Michael, Barbados, West Indies - BB14017

Kensington Oval

Description

Kensington Oval is the oldest cricket ground in Barbados, established in 1882. It is located in the western part of Bridgetown, Barbados and is the premier sporting facility on the island. The stadium primarily hosts cricket matches, and has been the location of many important and exciting games between local, regional, and international teams.

The Kensington Oval was expanded and was the venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka. The match was Sri Lanka's second World Cup final appearance and Australia's sixth, their fourth in a row. Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

Details of the Stadium

Here are some details about the Kensington Oval in Barbados:

  • Location: Bridgetown, Barbados
  • Capacity: 28,000
  • Established: 1882
  • Primarily used for: Cricket

Another Kensington Oval is located in Adelaide, Australia. This stadium is a multi-purpose sporting facility that is used for cricket, Australian rules football, and other sports.

The third Kensington Oval is located in Kensington, New South Wales, Australia. This is a park that includes a cricket ground.

History of the stadium

The history of Kensington Oval is all about cricket, and it's been a center for the sport in Barbados for over a century. Here's a timeline of its development:

  • 1882: The Pickwick Cricket Club takes ownership of the land and starts developing it into a cricket ground. This is considered the official beginning of cricket at Kensington Oval.
  • 1895: The ground hosts its first international match, featuring Slade Lucas' team visiting the island.
  • 1930: A historic moment - the first Test match is played at Kensington Oval, with the West Indies facing England in a drawn match.

From then on, Kensington Oval continued to be a major venue for cricket matches, including:

  • Hosting many more Test matches, with a significant number of wins for the West Indies team.
  • Being the site of the 2007 Cricket World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka, which Australia won.

The stadium itself underwent a major renovation and expansion between 2005 and 2007, which was commemorated on Barbadian postage stamps.

Today, Kensington Oval remains a vital part of Barbadian cricketing culture and a prestigious venue for international matches.

Records at this stadium

Here's a summary of Test, ODI & T20 records at Kensington Oval:

Test Matches:

  • Matches Played: 55
  • West Indies Wins: 25 (45.45%)
  • Touring Side Wins: 12 (21.82%)

ODI Matches:

  • Matches Played: 45 (as of August 2023) There might be more recent matches
  • Teams Batting Second Wins: 25
  • Highest ODI Score: 364/4 by England (2019)
  • Most ODI Centuries: 2 by Desmond Haynes & Brian Lara

T20I Matches:

  • Matches Played: 24
  • West Indies Wins: 9 (37.50%)
  • Neutral Team Wins: 9 (37.50%)
  • Highest T20I Score: (record not readily available)
  • Best Bowling Figures: 5/27 by Jason Holder (West Indies)

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