A Fan's Guide to Lord's in London

The Lord's Cricket Ground will host its first match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup today. Ever wondered what it is like at the Mecca of Cricket Well, here's a fan's guide to Lord's

Lord's is a dream destination for many avid cricket fans

Updated on:

23 Jun 2019, 5:08 am

3 min read

Ishant Sharma comes running in, all guns blazing to Moeen Ali. Dug in, and he is OUT. Ali takes his eyes off the ball and ducks into it. He gloves it to short leg, who makes no mistake. Half the ground erupts into an uncontrollable cheer while the other half is stunned into absolute silence. Sharma throws the killer punch as India can now dream of winning a first Test at the Mecca of Cricket in 28 years.

Five years after that iconic victory in 2014, Lord's is all set to host the grandst event of cricket - the ICC Cricket World Cup. The first match to be hosted at Lord's during the 2019 edition of the tournament is Pakistan taking on South Africa on June 23. At the top of the bucket list for cricket lovers, this ground in England represents the humble beginning of the sport before it came to the global fore.

If you're a cricket lover, Lord's is your ideal retreat. A tour of Lord's is taken on a daily basis, where one is shown the different locations around the ground. The tour will give you an opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Home of Cricket and explore some of the most famous sights in the world of the sport. So, if you're going for a match, book yourself some time on the tour.

The Pavilion at Lord's has the Long Room, the Dressing Rooms, and the Honour Boards[/caption]

Steeped in 200 years of history and tradition,&nbspthere are several areas of Lord's that are must-visits. The Pavillion, which is the main survivor from the Victorian Era, is the first on the list. The area contains several important sections of the ground such as the dressing rooms, used by players for changing. Interestingly, each dressing room has a separate balcony from which players can watch the match. Also, in each of the two dressing rooms, you'll come across honours boards, made to commemorate all the century scorers in a Test match played here. Bowlers are also appreciated and those who take a five-wicket haul or ten-wicket haul are given&nbsptributes.

While going to these rooms, one will walk through the Long Room. Described by cricket writer Lawrence Booth as "the four most evocative walls in world cricket", the room is lined with paintings of famous cricketers and administrators from between the 18th and 21st century.

The JP Morgan Media Center was recently built and can house over a 100 journalists[/caption]

After you have taken a tour of the Pavillion, walk towards the JP Morgan Media Centre. This media centre was made especially for the 1999 World Cup. The lower tier of the centre is capable of holding nearly 100 journalists, while the top tier is reserved for radio and TV commentators. Furthermore, the centre offers a mesmerising panoramic view of the entire ground.

Finally, remember to visit the MCC Museum, which is the world's oldest sport museum and contains one-of a kind memorabilia, the Ashes' Urn, kits of several English captains over the years, portraits, sculptures, among many other things. The museum has numerous kits of crickets from generations past and the copy of Wisden from WWII. Currently, it is looking to add new showpieces as its popularity seems to rise at an unbelievable pace.

Getting There There are several direct flights plying from Delhi and Mumbai to London. Airlines such as Jet Airways, Air India, British Airways, among others run a nearly 10 hours non-stop flight. You get your UK Visa by booking an appointment at the embassy, with the Visa valid for up to three months. It is highly recommended that you do not book your flights until your Visa has been confirmed.

To book a spot on the official tour of Lord's you need to register.

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