About | Details |
Also known as | Pickwick Cricket Club |
Established | 1871 |
Capacity | 28,000 |
End Names | Malcolm Marshall End, Joel Garner End |
Flood Lights | Yes, since 2009 |
Home Teams | West Indies, Barbados Royals |
Pitch | Grass |
The Kensington Oval is a famous cricket ground in Bridgetown, Barbados. It has been part of the island’s cricket since the 1880s, when the Pickwick Cricket Club took over the stadium.
The Oval hosted its first Test in 1930 when the West Indies faced England. The first ODI here was played between the West Indies and New Zealand in 1985. In 2008, the West Indies and Australia locked horns in the first T20I played at this venue. Over the years, it has become the main Barbados cricket ground with fans filling every block and stand to watch their team.
Ahead of the 2007 ODI World Cup, the Kensington Oval underwent a massive redevelopment and renovation. The old structure was taken down after the 2004-05 season and replaced with a larger, modern stadium. The rebuild lifted its capacity from 12,500 to nearly 28,000.
Kensington Oval Test Records and Stats
Kensington Oval has been home to some enormous Test totals. The highest ever team score is a massive 749/9d by the West Indies against England in 2009. The lowest came when England were dismissed for just 77 runs by the West Indies in 2019.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has scored 1,477 runs in 19 matches at this venue, the most by a batter. The ground has seen legendary individual feats too. Hanif Mohammad’s 337-run knock versus the West Indies in 1958 remains the highest Test score achieved here.
On the bowling front, Courtney Walsh grabbed 53 wickets in 12 Tests, the most at this stadium. Lance Gibbs once took 8/38 against India in 1962, holding the record of the best innings figures here.
Kensington Oval ODI Records and Stats
In ODIs, the record of highest team score belongs to England. They posted 364/4 against the West Indies in 2019 at Kensington Oval. The lowest total is 91 all out by Ireland that came in the 2007 ODI World Cup versus Australia.
Among batters, Chris Gayle leads the run charts with 688 career ODI runs at this ground. Alzarri Joseph has taken the most wickets, 30 in a total of 12 ODIs he has played here.
The highest individual ODI score is Adam Gilchrist’s 149 in the 2007 World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka, and the best bowling spell is Andrew Hall’s 5/18 against England in the same tournament.
Kensington Oval T20I Records and Stats
The highest team total in a T20I at Kensington Oval is 224/5 by the West Indies that they scored versus England in 2022. The lowest is 80 all out by Afghanistan against South Africa in the 2010 T20 World Cup.
Jos Buttler tops the T20I batting charts with 317 runs in nine games. Jason Holder is the top wicket-taker with 18 scalps in eight matches.
The highest T20I individual score here is Rovman Powell’s 107 off just 53 balls versus England in 2022. Holder also bagged 5/27 against England in 2022, recording the best bowling figures in the T20I format at this ground.
How to Reach Kensington Oval?
The stadium is well-connected and easily accessible:
📍 Address: President Kennedy Dr, Bridgetown BB120004, Barbados
Nearest Bus Stop: Princess Alice Bus Terminal
Nearest Railway Station: Barbados has no rail network. Buses and taxis are the main public transport options.
Nearest Airport: Grantley Adams International Airport (about 18 km from the stadium, 25-30 minutes by car/taxi)
