Why are cricket grounds called ovals ?

[Donny]

I posed a question in the Test thread as to why cricket grounds are called ovals. A mate replied telling me it was because of their shape. Below are some of the most famous 'ovals' in the world. None of them are ovals. Yes, they're all in England but that's where this great game is said to have started. • adjective having a rounded and slightly elongated outline; egg-shaped. From the Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English Old Trafford Leicestershire County Cricket Club County Ground on Grace Road Leicester Lord's Trent Bridge. Nottingham. Even The Oval isn't an oval. :wink_smile:

[yoda]

I guess it is because they are supposed to be ovals. Interestingly enough these ones are definitely not. :giggle:

[Cricketics]

ask steven??? ur questions answered

[varun]

The Oval (the original one - Kennington Oval) was actually oval shaped. After they built the stadium and all, it's shape changed. Take a look at the satellite image of "The Oval". http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=London&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=51.483514,-0.115045&spn=0.003488,0.007446&z=17