The iconic Kensington Oval stands as one of the Caribbean’s most stunning and prestigious sports grounds. Nestled in the western part of Bridgetown, Barbados, this iconic venue boasts a rich history transcending cricket. Over its illustrious 150+ years of existence, Kensington Oval has not only been the stage for numerous landmark cricket matches but has also played host to significant hockey and football events.
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The Kensington Oval is located in the Bridgetown city of Barbados and is just ~600 yards away from the sea coast. The minimal distance of Kensington Oval ground from the nearest Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is 18 Kilometers. The stadium is located exactly at 13.1050° N, 59.6225° W coordinates (as per Google Maps).
Built in 1871, cricket activities at Kensington Oval started in 1882 when the Pickwick Cricket Club officially took over the ground. The venue hosted its first international match in 1895 with the visit of Slade Lucas’ team. The inaugural Test match took place in January 1930, resulting in a draw between the West Indies and England. Since then, Kensington Oval has been the site of 43 Test matches.
This stadium is the biggest cricket stadium in the Caribbean in terms of permanent capacity (28,000) and has hosted England’s historic T20 World Cup win over rivals Australia in 2010. Bridgetown stadium also hosted the final of the Cricket World Cup of 2007 between Australia and Sri Lanka (winner- Australia). The stadium is set to host several important matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and will also host the final of the marque tournament.
Overview of The Kensington Oval
- Ground Name- Kensington Oval, also known as Pickwick Cricket Club
- Location- Bridgetown, Barbados [coordinates- 13.1050° N, 59.6225° W]
- Nearest Airport- Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
- Capacity- 28,000
- Ends- Malcolm Marshall End, Joel Garner End
- Flood Lights- Yes
- Historic Events- Final of T20 World Cup 2010 & Final of Cricket World Cup 2007
Stats and Records
Test Cricket
- Total Matches– 55
- Matches won batting first– 17
- Matches won bowling first– 20
- Average 1st innings Score– 333
- Average 2nd innings Score– 337
- Average 3rd innings Score– 259
- Average 4th innings Score– 148
ODI Cricket
- Total Matches– 52
- Matches won batting first– 22
- Matches won bowling first– 28
- Average 1st innings Score– 226
- Average 2nd innings Score– 197
T20I Circket
- Total Matches– 42
- Matches won batting first– 28
- Matches won bowling first– 13
- Average 1st innings Score– 138
- Average 2nd innings Score– 124
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Fixtures At This Venue
| Date/Day | Fixture | Group | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, Sunday | Namibia vs Oman, 3rd Match | Group B | 06:00 AM IST/ 08:30 PM LOCAL |
| June 4, Tuesday | England vs Scotland, 6th Match | Group B | 08:00 PM IST/10:30 AM LOCAL |
| June 5, Wednesday | Australia vs Oman, 10th Match | Group B | 06:00 AM IST/ 08:30 PM LOCAL |
| June 6, Thursday | Namibia vs Scotland, 12th Match | Group B | 11:59 PM IST/ 03:00 PM LOCAL |
| June 8, Saturday | Australia vs England, 17th Match | Group B | 10:30 PM IST/ 01:00 PM LOCAL |
| June 20, Thursday | C1 vs A1, Super 8 | Group 1 | 08:00 PM IST/10:30 AM LOCAL |
| June 21, Friday | A2 vs C2, Super 8 | Group 2 | 06:00 AM IST/ 08:30 PM LOCAL |
| June 23, Sunday | A2 vs B1, Super 8 | Group 2 | 08:00 PM IST/10:30 AM LOCAL |
| June 29, Saturday | TBC vs TBC | Final | 07:30 PM IST/10:00 AM LOCAL |
Kensington Oval Pitch Report
It has been an iconic ground in cricket history. The pitch report for Kensington Oval Stadium in Barbados indicates a well-balanced surface, favoring both batsmen and bowlers. Batsmen can anticipate good bounce and carry, allowing the ball to come nicely onto the bat as the game progresses. However, the pitch’s slow nature gives spinners a chance to shine. Given the conditions and historical performance at Barbados Stadium, teams winning the toss should ideally opt to chase. This strategy takes advantage of the pitch characteristics and potential benefits as the match unfolds.
Sources- Wikipedia, ICC Official Website