The Oval's 100th Test: Wasim and Waqar's devastation is still the best I witnessed at the Oval

Today, the Kennington Oval will host its 100^th Test match. This ground has been the home of Surrey since 1845. The first ever Test was hosted on this ground way back in 1880 what were then the pre-Ashes days. Two years later, on this ground, Fredrick Spofforth and co gave birth to the Ashes which is still regarded as the fiercest rivalries in Test cricket.

 The Oval is also a spectator of a number of historical events apart from cricket. In 1870, England's first international football match, versus Scotland was staged here.  It hosted the first FA Cup final in 1872. In 1876, it held both the England v Wales and England v Scotland rugby international matches, and in 1877, rugby's first Varsity match.

I am privileged to witness some of the greatest Test matches and performances at this ground since the 90s. From the havoc of two Ws to Devon Malcolm’s devastation to Brain Lara’s hundred to Saeed Anwar’s classic century to Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva and Muralitharan’s magic to New Zealand’s epic win to England's regaining the Wisden Trophy to Steve Waugh’s fighting century to Rahul Dravid’s double ton to Marcus Trescothick’s double ton against Shaun Pollock, Ntini and Jac Kallis to Kevin Pietersen’s hundred and historic Ashes triumph to forfeited Test to Anil Kumble’s hundred and India’s triumph to South Africa’s celebration after winning the series to Andrew Strauss’ men’s regaining the Ashes to Pakistan’s victory out of nowhere to England’s whitewash to Hashim Amla’s mastery to England’s Ashes triumph to India’s shambolic defeat to Moeen Ali to England’s Ashes win to Pakistan’s historic win.

Woah! My experience of watching Test matches at Kia Oval is more than two decades and how quickly time flew away. It was one of the summers of 1992 when I came to know about the Oval and Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis’ high profile bowling on that ground left me and all of us spell bound. At the fag end of the first day, Wasim Akram ran through the English batting lineup and then in England’s second innings, Waqar Younis unleashed hell on a flat deck to crush the hosts. Waqar’s dismissal of David Gower is still etched in my mind – it was a delivery pitched on middle and leg and swung in such a way, Gower thought t would leave. But it swung late than ever to clip the bails leaving Gower stunned as he shouldered arms.  England were down and out and Pakistan won another Test series in England.  

Yes, I witnessed many great performances at the Oval since 1992, but still, in my book, that devastating bowling display by Wasim and Waqar in 1992 still is the best performance I have seen on this very ground in a Test match.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar