England vs Australia 5th Test Ashes 2023: Kennington Oval Pitch Report, Team Records at London

It is now time for the fifth and final Test match between hosts England and Australia scheduled to take place at the Kennington Oval in London starting from 27 July, 2023. Unfortunately, England were forced to settle for a draw as they were bossing the Manchester Test match but the heavy rains allowed no play to be possible on Day 5. This also means that Australia have retained the Ashes ‘Urn’ after having won the first two Test matches and they are also leading the five-match Ashes 2023 Test series by 2-1 margin.

Kennington Oval Pitch Report

Traditionally, the pitch at Kennington Oval has been favorable for hit-the-deck fast bowlers, as it allows them to extract decent bounce from the surface. As the match progresses, especially with intense sun beating down, spinners also come into play and find assistance from the pitch.

Moreover, the even bounce at The Oval makes it one of the most batsman-friendly venues in the country. Dealing with the new ball can be a challenge, but once the batsmen settle in, conditions become more favorable. The average first innings score of 343 indicates the pitch’s reliability for good batting performances. Overall, the surface is likely to be conducive for the batsmen during the final Test match.

The weather in London is expected to be a significant factor during the final Test of the Ashes 2023 series at The Oval. The forecast predicts rain throughout the Test match, potentially impacting play and the final outcome. Day five carries the highest probability of rain, raising concerns about a limited amount of play on the last day. Such conditions may reduce the likelihood of achieving a definite result, increasing the possibility of a draw. Additionally, on day one, there is a greater than 50% chance of precipitation, which could pose challenges for the match’s start, leading to potential delays in getting the game underway.

Team Records at London

• Out of the 105 Test matches played at the Kennington Oval, England have won as many as 43 Tests, 23 matches have been won by visiting teams while there have been 37 drawn games.
• 38 Test matches have been won by teams batting first on this ground and 29 games have been won by teams batting second.
• During the last Ashes 2019 Test match between these two teams at The Oval, England defeated Australia by 135 runs.