Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club

The third episode of ‘Tales from The Oval’, presented by Tom Holland – host of The Rest is History - and Jon Surtees from Surrey CCC takes you inside the birth of the Ashes and incredible story of how international cricket was brought to the UK by The Oval.

Tom and Jon discuss Surrey's contribution to England's first ever tour of Australia; the extraordinary legacy of Charles Alcock – probably the most influential sports administrator of all time – and his vision to stage the first ever Test Match to be held in England, at The Oval, in 1880.

The podcast also tells the story of the historic Tests of 1880 and 1882, the Test that was so dramatic it ultimately created The Ashes – dwelling on some extraordinary parallels in cricketing history and truly laying out why The Oval is the most historically important cricket ground in the world.

Future episodes will be released every Wednesday, with episode 4 – coming on Wednesday June 12th – naming Tom and Jon’s choice for the greatest Surrey player of all time and telling their amazing story.

Twitter:

@surreycricket

@holland_tom

@JonnySurtees

Producer: Will Lewis
Executive Producers: Matt Thacker + Jon Surtees

Tales from The Oval, presented by Tom Holland – host of The Rest is History - and Jon Surtees, continues with the story of the founding and establishment of The Oval as one of the world's pre eminent cricket grounds.

Find out about the history of cricket on Kennington Common, the founding of The Oval in 1845, how Surrey CCC came to run the ground, the earliest Surrey games played and the Club's first ever County Championship crown.

The episode features appearances from numerous Princes of Wales, a family of Otters, the Godfather of The Oval (a chemist from Brixton Hill), the River Effra, a few south London pubs, a smelly reservoir, a noxious market garden, Oscar Wilde and the Marquess of Queensberry!

Future episodes will be released every Wednesday, with episode 3 – coming on Wednesday June 4th – telling the story of why The Oval will always be the home of international and the birthplace of the Ashes.

Twitter:

@surreycricket

@holland_tom

@JonnySurtees

Producer: Will Lewis
Executive Producers: Matt Thacker + Jon Surtees

Tales from The Oval, presented by Tom Holland – host of The Rest is History - and Jon Surtees, launches with a fascinating delve into the history of Kennington.

Listen on to discover how The Black Prince, a collection of charismatic medieval Knights, Charles I, a celebrity highwayman by the name of Jerry Abershaw, a forger called William Badger, the founder of Methodism John Wesley and the Chartists all played vital and fascinating roles in the history of The Oval.

Before delving into the incredible history of the ground, which will be the focus of future episodes, the first episode explores the ancient history of Kennington and Vauxhall and features an incredible role call of the characters that have populated our part of south London for the last millennium.     

Future episodes will be released every Wednesday, with episode 2 – coming on Wednesday May 29th – investigating the history of cricket on Kennington Common, the founding of Surrey CCC and the Club’s glorious successes during the late Victorian period.

Twitter:

@surreycricket

@holland_tom

@JonnySurtees

Producer: Will Lewis
Executive Producers: Matt Thacker + Jon Surtees

Welcome to a brand new podcast from Tom Holland (The Rest is History) and Jon Surtees - Tales from The Oval.

Over the course of an eleven episode series, Tom and Jon (editor of Wisden at The Oval) will conclusively demonstrate that The Oval ranks as the most historic sports venue in the world.

As well as telling the stories of iconic cricketers who have adorned the ground, from WG Grace to Alf Gover, and from Jack Hobbs to Michael Holding, the podcast will nominate Surrey’s greatest ever player, captain and team, and select the greatest ever innings and spell of bowling seen at the Oval.  

But it is not all cricket! Tom and Jon will also be exploring how The Oval played a key role in the history of football and rugby; has hosted both American football and Aussie rules; and became the first ground in history to floodlight a sporting extravaganza, when torches were erected to illuminate the incredible Victorian sport of Pedestrianism.

There is history too. The podcast ranges from the Middle Ages, when the Black Prince was a regular in Kennington, to the 18th century, when Jacobites and highwaymen were executed opposite what is now the Oval Tube, to the First and Second World Wars, when the ground was requisitioned, and numerous Surrey cricketers distinguished themselves in action.

Tom and Jon will also be playing host to an incredible array of guests - among them, the great West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding, Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross, and former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent.

Mark Church is joined by Jo Harman, Wisden Cricket Monthly Magazine Editor, to talk through the game against Kent at Beckenham.

The pair talk through a dominant performance, prematurely cut short by the weather. Churchy sings the praises of Will Jacks and they remember Andrew Symonds - a true box office cricketer.

Surrey take on a Sri Lanka Development XI at Guildford starting on Friday 20 May. You can keep up to date with the match on kiaoval.com and get the latest updates from the Club on social media: @surreycricket on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Mark Church is joined by Jo Harman, Wisden Cricket Monthly Magazine Editor, to discuss the three day win against Northants and look forward to the oldest rivalry in cricket.

Churchy and Jo swap surprising Surrey stats and discuss who the first player on the team sheet is.

Surrey take on Kent at Beckenham starting on Thursday 11 May. You can keep up to date with the Club on social media: @surreycricket on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.