The Oval

traveladdict

Certainly not over 21st August 2008

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The Oval - a place to marvel at the tradition that is British cricket!

The Oval often takes a back seat to Lords as the Country's main cricket ground however having seen a test match recently the Oval was superb. All stands give a great view of the action and it is so easy to get to

The Oval is not over

NikoTheFinn

Cracking cricket 27th September 2006

2 found this helpful

Smashing, i say, what-o. Cricket, old chap, tally-ho. The glorious sound of willow on leather, say what? Glass of port, and a cucumber sandwich, what what?

Yes indeed, cricket is played at the Oval. And while it is probably a sacrilege for me, a heathen Finn and non-player of the noble game, to be writing this review, i'm going to risk the wrath of the purists out there.

Why am i writing this review? Because i had a simply smashing day out here one time, simply smashing, watching England unexpectedly beat Pakistan on the fourth day of play. Having initially arrived at the Oval rather sceptical about whether or not i would enjoy myself, i found myself riveted by the action, thanks to about 8 cans of strong lager and expert commentary from the one and only Brierley, whose father is a member of the Surrey County Cricket Club. This cricketing celebrity connection secured our posse of ten rowdy young auditors access to the members-only section, where i promptly managed to spill some very posh old gentleman's bottle of '89 Chauteau Lafite-Rothschild into his picnic hamper, thereby ruining the prawn sandwiches and his bouffon-haired wife's chocolate blanc mange.

Regardless of the little mishap, we retained our places right at the edge of the action, and i found myself getting more and more drawn into the game. As the gentle summer light faded into twilight, England dismissed the last of the Pakistani batsmen, and the crowd went wild. We all charged the pitch, jumping and squealing for joy.

What can i say? i enjoyed a game of cricket, my one and only game of cricket, and i am not ashamed to say so. So, if you have never been, i urge you to go.

robcarter at 28/09/06

You have neglected to mention incurring the wrath of Pakistan by grabbing a fanatic's flag and informing him that his enthusiastic chanting was "really p*ssing everyone off!".

NikoTheFinn at 28/09/06

ah yes, there was that little incident too! what can i stay, i was drinking stella!

Kabula at 29/09/06

port and cucumber sandwiches??!!?? you should know better than to claim those two were being consumed together. any self-respecting cricket-loving toff would have had a good bit of stilton, not a cucumber sandwich. tut tut.

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