While in Lonon next month, I plan on attending the first of a four day cricket match at the Kia Oval. It will be the Surrey Cricket Club versus another team. Any ideas as to what to expect. I am familiar with the general rules and okay if cricket. (I certainly hope it does not rain, of course,)
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
At the end of the month is Gloucestershire in for a 4 day. It should be a decent day out, what with breaks for lunch and tea. Glos was the home of W G Grace and his beard.
I doubt that you will see anything of Kevin Pietersen who seems to have decided he'd wander off to IPL in India and who knows what next. He was only putting in time at Surrey CCC hoping he'd get a place on the England team which isn't on. He doesn't show up any longer in the squad.
I'd expect a restrained crowd, not as restrained as at Lords, and fairly slow scoring, pacing over the 4 days.
The Oval is a super top class ground.
The first thing to know, when chatting with others at the fixture is not say that you are familiar with the rules. There are no rules in cricket. There are Laws.
You might have a read of Wisden, or the excellent summary wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsofcricket
Especially see if you can learn the signals from the umpires.
If the booth is selling radio earphones they are a really good way to hear commentary and understand what you are seeing. I don't know if they do that for LV= matches.
Try and sit where you can see the scoreboard.
There aren't a lot of bad seats at the Oval. BTW - purists (I are one I'm afeard) refer to it as The Oval. I decline to associate the Oval with an advertiser's name.
I hope you have a wonderful day...
Oh, and if the ball comes into the stand you have to throw it back.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
Don't forget to ring up and let them know when you are coming.
I jest but not a lot - 4 day county cricket 'crowds' tend to be sparse if mid week.
The mention of WG Grace reminds me that I wound up a Gloucestershire supporter once by saying they had never been good since he left. Only a slight exaggeration ....
Posted by
Kingston, Surrey
239 posts
The big Test match grounds can be a bit soulless for County Championship games--grounds built for 20,000 spectators can be rather empty with 1,000 people in them. Depending on when you're here, you might be better off going to the last day of a Test match, when tickets are sold at the gate (and it's a series against Australia this year, the pinnacle of international cricket) or if there are no Tests on, try a Championship game at a smaller ground like Tunbridge Wells or Chelmsford.