With the 100th Test at the Oval looming, Roderick Easdale picks 10 epic battles on the famous south London ground

History man: Devon Malcolm leads England off after taking 9-57 against South Africa in 1994

v Australia 1880
This was the start of Test cricket in England. After an acrimonious tour by Lord Harris’ English side the previous winter, and a late decision by the Australians to send a team, the tourists struggled to find high-profile fixtures. In a four-and-a-half-month tour, of their 53 games only nine were first-class.
Negotiations between WG Grace and MCC to put on a matc...