English summer is for cricket. Fans gather, enjoy a few pints, and immerse themselves in the beautiful game in its purest form — Test cricket. And when it comes to Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, the game merges seamlessly with tradition and storied legacy.
Home to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), formed in 1788, this iconic ground has stood tall as one of cricket’s cultural epicentres through the ages.
As Day 5 of the ongoing third Test between England and India promises to be a nail-biting encounter — with both teams still in contention — fans at Lord’s are in for a thrilling finish. But even amid the high stakes, the atmosphere at Lord’s has been notably different from the first two Tests.
At Headingley and Edgbaston, fan culture took centre stage. There, the mood was a carnival: people dressed as storybook characters, cartoon figures, even mythological icons. Drums and trumpets created a continuous backdrop of noise and festivity. The Bharat Army and Barmy Army — representing Indian and English supporters respectively — made their presence felt from the first ball. Songs, chants, banter, music — the stands came alive in full-blown fiesta mode.
There’s no shortage of buzz at Lord’s — cheers erupt for a wicket, applause rings out for a boundary, and rhythmic claps echo through the stands — but all of it unfolds without the blare of drums or the blast of trumpets.
But in St John’s Wood, at Lord’s, matchday is a different affair. “There’s nothing like an early morning at the Grace Gate on a matchday,” said a gentleman proudly clad in the traditional scarlet and gold blazer and cap.
Everywhere you look — especially near the Grace Gate — you witness tradition. MCC hats, coats, and ties are the norm, worn with quiet pride by both men and women.
But aren’t they here for fun too? Won’t they enjoy the game?
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It’s just done the MCC way at Lord’s. “Lord’s discourages fancy dress, and certainly discourages drums, trumpets and beats,” said Alasdair Wilson, an MCC member since 2017.
“The thing about Lord’s that makes it unique is that if you sit in the ground, there’s always a constant babble — like being in a big cocktail party,” Wilson added. “And that kind of chatter — random discussions about everything from cricket to the meaning of life, politics, whatever — is something you find, I feel, uniquely at Lord’s.”
Sportingly acknowledging his own age, he remarked, “I’m getting old, but I have been to the other grounds and I find it quite distracting when non-cricket themes are introduced into the game.”
Still, over the years, some of Lord’s rigid traditionalism has softened. One can spot fans in shorts, in jerseys of other nations, or in bright, chequered shirts — though Scooby Doo or Super Mario costumes remain firmly off-limits.
Wilson shared his view: “I think it’s a shame when people wear say a football shirt to a cricket match. I understand cricket shirts from different clubs or different countries, but this is about cricket. It’s not about somebody advertising a football club. So, you see, there are no posters or flag-waving about football affiliations. That’s what keeps Lord’s very unique.”
Even younger fans echo this sentiment. Two members of the Bharat Army, Ishaan and Ranvir, shared their experience. “Yes, they don’t allow the trumpets and drums here. Only jerseys are allowed,” said Ishaan. “Again, from Manchester, you would find us in full stem,” Ranvir chimed in.
Despite the curbs, Lord’s remains perhaps the truest bastion of cricketing culture — a ground where fans queue for years just for a membership. “The non-playing membership waiting list is about seventeen years, I believe,” said a member.
And that perhaps is the beauty of Lord’s. While other grounds may revel in chaotic cheer, here the calm, the conversations, and the quiet reverence tell a different story — one of legacy and deep-rooted love for the game. In a world rapidly globalising, Lord’s remains a rare sanctuary where tradition still takes guard — and holds its ground.
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