The Oval
A general view as England bat against India on the second day of the fourth test match between England and India at The Oval Cricket Ground Getty

Cricket fans will continue to enjoy one of the sport's most iconic views at The Oval after the nearby gasholder was granted Grade II listed status. The wrought iron structure has towered over some of crickets most memorable moments at the Kennington cricket ground, in south-east London, and has been protected as it marked an important moment in gasholder technology.

It was originally built in 1847 before being rebuilt in 1879, just in time to be the backdrop to the first ever Test on English soil in September 1880, when England beat Australia by five wickets. While the arena is most commonly associated with cricket, football and rugby matches have also been hosted there as well as music performances by The Who and The Faces.

For buildings, Grade II* (two star) indicates that "buildings are particularly important...of more than special interest. - Historic England

IBTimes UK looks back on five of the most memorable moments beneath the shadow of the Victorian structure.

The Ashes
The Ashes trophy at the London Exhibition circa 1880 Getty

The Ashes is born – 1882

England prevailed against Australia in the first-ever Test in England at The Oval in September 1880 but it was their Test series two years later that caught the public imagination spawning what became known as the Ashes. England were decimated leading to the The Sporting Times to publish its famous mock obituary.

The Oval
FA Cup finals and home internationals was played at The Oval Getty

Home of...football?

The Oval staged the first FA Cup final in 1872 between London side Wanderers and the Royal Engineers. Wanderers ran out 1-0 winners in front of 2,000 spectators. The following year the first England international was played against Scotland and the ground was home to the FA Cup final between 1874 and 1892.

Sir Donald Bradman
Sir Donald Bradman was bowled for a duck at The Oval in his final Test match Getty

Bradman's farewell duck - 1948

The cricket world was left stunned when Sir Donald Bradman's last ever Test innings ended in ignominy in 1948. The Australian batsmen, widely considered to be the greatest ever, was dismissed for a duck when he was bowled second ball by Eric Hollies. He finished with a Test batting average of 99.94 and needed just four runs for an average of 100.

Devon Malcolm
Devon Malcolm has the eighth best bowling figures in Test history after an impressive spell at the Oval Getty

Devon Malcolm's 9 for 57 – 1994

Malcolm's extraordinary burst against South Africa remains one of the most stunning from an England bowler and the eighth-best in Test history. He had been dropped from the England team but was fired up when recalled for the third Test at an inviting Oval. He was clattered with a bouncer while batting, and the South African fielders burst out laughing at him. Malcolm pointed at them and uttered the words "you guys are history". When South Africa batted Malcolm bowled smoothly, straight and lightning fast, ripping the heart out of their line-up. His dismissal of Proteas captain Hansie Cronje, who had his stumps ripped out of the ground, was unforgettable.

The Oval
Kevin Pietersen helped England secure the Ashes at the Oval in 2005 Getty

Ashes draw – 2005

The most famous Ashes series of them all and The Oval was the setting for a tumultuous match. Australia, by far the best team in the world at the time, had to win to bring the series back to 2-2, England just had to draw to secure a 2-1 win. An England batting collapse handed the impetus to the Aussies, but at 199-7 Kevin Pietersen decided to stop defending and launched a thrilling counter-attack. His first test hundred included seven huge sixes, including ones in successive overs from Brett Lee and Shane Warne. His 158 set the Oval alight and ensured the draw that England needed to reclaim the Ashes.