Take Me Out to The Oval: Cricket and Beer in London

I was fortunate enough to attend day two of the ICC World Test Championship cricket match between Australia and India at The Oval in London. As a passionate cricket fan, it was a dream to see these two world class teams compete live on English soil.

 

Upon arriving at the iconic stadium, I was impressed with how easy it was to grab a pint and make it to my seat in time for the first ball. The beer was served cold in cups with a clever handle that allowed multiple beers to be stacked and carried one handed - genius! 

 

There was no shortage of food options, from bangers and mash, gourmet pastries to hoisin duck pancakes and sushi. I went for a hearty sausage roll and duck burrito to get me through a full day of cheering.

We also did a boat tour to Malta's stunning Blue Lagoon on Comino island. Arriving early ensured we got lounge seats up top to take in the scenery. We jumped into the crystal clear water at several spots to swim and snorkel.

 

The atmosphere was electric, especially the highly spirited Indian fan section resplendent in face/body paint, drums and coordinated chants. Their enthusiasm was contagious even for the Aussie supporters. 

​

As if the cricket action wasn't enough, the weather was quintessential English summer perfection. Under sunny blue skies, I was able to fully soak up a brilliant day of world class test match cricket. I'm thrilled to say the Aussies battled to a hard fought win in a truly epic match between two exceptional teams.

​

Needless to say, plopping down at The Oval with beer in hand to watch top notch cricket should be on any sports fans’ England bucket list. It was a sporting experience I’ll never forget!