Following a disappointing defeat at Old Trafford last week, England's cricketers go into the fifth and final test of the series having already lost the Ashes.
The best Joe Root’s side can hope for now is to draw the series 2-2, which would result in current holders Australia retaining the urn – still, there’s a huge amount of pride at stake as the two teams meet at the Oval on Thursday.
England’s batting line-up has struggled during the series, and despite showing application in the second innings at Old Trafford, they’ll need to up their game in order to end the series on a relative high.
If you haven’t got tickets for the showdown at the Oval, there are plenty of great spots to catch it across the rest of the capital.
We’ve picked out five of our favourite places to watch the cricket, from sports bars to pubs by the home of cricket, followed by a list of ever-reliable boozers that are screening the matches.
The Pavilion End
With a name like that, you know this pub is going to be good for watching the cricket. Sitting in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral, The Pavilion End is one of the best places to catch live sport in the City, but comes into its own when the bat and ball are involved. It’ll be showing each of the Tests on its big screens — try to grab a seat near the projector for the best view.
23 Watling Street, EC4M 9BR, pavilionendpub.co.uk
Lord’s Tavern
What better place to watch the Ashes than at the home of cricket? While this pub might not entirely be part of Lord’s, it’s about as close as you can get to it without being part of the ground itself. Found right next to the Grace Gates, it’s a gastropub that does decent grub (the menu is split into “openers”, “middle order” and “tail enders” for starters, mains and puddings) with a solid booze selection. Bear in mind that it will actually be closed during the Lord’s Test, but will show the rest of the series.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood Road, NW8 8QN, lords.org
Greenwood
Smart interiors, free-flowing booze, tasty food, lively atmosphere and a central location all mean that Greenwood is a popular sports bar whenever the biggest matches are on. There are plenty of screens showing the action, so you shouldn’t be stuck in any blind spots, and a fair bit of seating — especially welcome during an all-day Test match.
170 Victoria Street, SW1E 5LB, greenwoodlondon.com
The best of the rest
- The Merchant of Battersea, 23-25 Battersea Rise, Clapham Junction, SW11 1HG, themerchantbattersea.com
- Shakespeare’s Head, 29 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HZ, greeneking-pubs.co.uk
- The Green Man, 57 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 8SR, thegreenmansoho.co.uk
- Waterloo Sports Bar and Grill, Unit 1 The Balcony, Waterloo Railway Station, Waterloo Road, E1 7NY, sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/waterloo
- Slug and Lettuce, Leicester Square, 5 Lisle Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7BG, slugandlettuce.co.uk/leicestersquare
- Broadleaf, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2N 1HN, broadleaflondon.com
- Famous Three Kings, 171 North End Rd, W14 9NL, craft-pubs.co.uk
