As the spiritual “Home of Cricket,” Lord’s will offer an appropriate setting for the action that will unfold during this week’s Ashes match.
The second test match between England and Australia will begin on Wednesday at Lord’s.
Let’s have a look at the history of Lord’s Cricket venue, which is considered to be the most renowned cricket venue in the world:
The previous events
Thomas Lord, an enterprising businessman, selected Dorset Fields as the location for the original home of the Marylebone Cricket Club, which was established in 1787. Dorset Fields is located in north-west London.
In the year 1814, the MCC relocated its grounds to St. John’s Wood, which is now the location of Lord’s ground.
In the end, Lord parted ways with the property and sold it to William Ward, a director at the Bank of England, for the sum of £5,400 ($6,800), but his name endures.
In the year 1877, the MCC extended an invitation to Middlesex to adopt Lord’s as its county ground. This agreement is still in place to this day, and Lord’s also hosts at least one and sometimes two England Test matches each year. Middlesex accepted the invitation.
A Look at the Honors Board
Every cricketer who competes at Lord’s has the secret hope that one day their name will be shown on the honours boards that are affixed to the walls of both the home and away dressing rooms.
The only way for a player’s name to be added to the boards at Lord’s was for them to achieve one of three milestones: score a century, take five wickets in an innings, or take 10 wickets in a Test match there.
The boards were redesigned in 2019, and as of that year, centuries and five-wicket hauls in limited overs internationals, in both men’s and women’s matches, are now also recognized as accomplishments worthy of recognition.
Some of cricket’s all-time greats, including Don Bradman, Ian Botham, and Viv Richards, have been honored with a seat on the boards, while others, like Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, and Shane Warne, have not. Don Bradman, Ian Botham, and Viv Richards are among those who have been honored.
“Attention to detail and keeping the tradition alive is what makes Lord’s so special,” said Anil Kumble, a former India spinner.
The incline
Bowlers who are skilled enough may get an edge at Lord’s because the pitch slopes downward from the north end of the ground to the south end of the ground.
The depth difference is 2.5 meters (just over eight feet), and because of the slope’s angles, seam bowlers from the Pavilion End and swing bowlers from the Nursery End attempt to gain an edge since the slope’s natural fluctuation modifies the bounce of the ball. The difference in depth is 2.5 meters (just over eight feet).
However, on one side of the field the outfield is faster since the ball goes down the hill, and bowlers might lose their rhythm on the unique surface, thus batters have the opportunity to redress the balance.
“Once you get used to the slope, it can be a huge advantage as a bowler, because even when it’s flat, you feel like you’re in the game with some movement,” James Anderson, England’s record Test wicket-taker, said. “Once you get used to the slope, it can be a huge advantage as a batter.”
However, if your rhythm is incorrect in any way, it might have a significant impact on you.
The event in question
The Lord’s presents a setting that is authentically English due to its location in the modest luxury of the lush St. John’s Wood neighborhood.
The excitement of the game on the hallowed ground might be captivating, but a trip to Lord’s is just as memorable for the people you meet and the atmosphere you soak in as it is for the cricket.
In addition to Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, the Lord’s Test is considered to be one of the most prestigious athletic events that can be seen in the United Kingdom.
The sound of willow hitting leather on the field is just as evocative of Lord’s as the sound of Champagne corks exploding in the spectators.
The Victorian Pavilion, a beautiful red-brick edifice that houses the players’ changing rooms as well as three levels of seats for spectators, is a Grade II-listed structure and takes pride of place among the eye-catching architecture that can be seen at Lord’s.
The “Long Room” has been called “the most evocative four walls in world cricket” because to the paintings that hang on its walls depicting famous cricket players from throughout the ages. Players enter the field through this room on their way from the locker room to the playing field.
Kumar Sangakarra, a former Sri Lankan captain who subsequently became the first foreign president of the MCC, remarked, “2002 was the year that I made my debut here. I can still vividly recall being treated to lunch there, and the sensation of being in such a historically significant location was indescribable.