RARE MILESTONE

The Oval will become the fourth venue to stage its 100th Test on Thursday. A look at five memorable Tests.

1882: Birth of the Ashes

One of the oldest trophies in sport was born when England’s shock defeat by Australia led to a mock obituary in the Sporting Times that said English cricket had died. When England toured Australia, their captain, Ivo Bligh, was presented with an urn said to contain the ashes of a bail, hence the name for all Anglo-Australian Test series.

1938: Len Hutton, the recordbreaker

Len Hutton was 22 when he set a world record for the highest Test score of 364 against Australia in an innings and the 579-run thrashing is still the largest margin of victory in a Test. Hutton surpassed fellow batsman Walter Hammond’s 336* against New Zealand as the highest individual score then in Test cricket.

1948: Don bows out with a duck

The most famous nought in history saw Donald Bradman walk out for his final Test innings before retirement, needing a mere four runs for a Test average of 100. Instead, he was bowled by England leg-spinner Eric Hollies for nought, but his Test average of 99.94 remains way ahead of any other batsman. Bradman didn’t get a second chance to bat in a match Australia won by an innings and 149 runs.

1976: Richards and Holding triumph

Prior to the 1976 series against West Indies, England captain Tony Greig said he intended to make them opponents “grovel”. West Indies were angered and Vivian Richards (291) and Michael Holding, with match figures of 16-149, saw their side to a 231-run win and sealed a 3-0 series win.

2005: Pietersen secures the Ashes

One of the most thrilling Test series was still in the balance on the final day. But Kevin Pietersen’s 158, his maiden Test century, against an attack boasting of greats like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne --saw England to a draw that secured a first Ashes series win in 19 years.