By Trisha Ghosal in London
Cricket and English fans share one of the most romantic relationships in sport. As I sit down to write this piece, it’s my 46th day on this tour of England, and if there’s one thing that has absolutely won my heart, it’s the English fans’ unwavering love for going to the ground and watching the game unfold live.
As the caravan moved to London for the final Test, with England leading the series 2-1 after 20 days of fiercely fought red-ball cricket, my colleague and I took refuge in a hotel just a few steps away from the Kia Oval.
The name of the hotel is Belgrave London, but since it’s located so close to the ground and most of its guests check in during cricket season, the hotel has embraced a rebranding: it now goes by The Maiden Oval.
“Oval,” of course, because of the iconic venue. But “Maiden”? That has a beautiful twist. The hotel’s owner has Indian roots, and in Hindi, maidan means “ground.” So, what started as a clever blend of cultures—Maidan Oval—has now elegantly become The Maiden Oval.
Just casually chatting with one of the front desk staff, I learnt that the hotel is fully booked for the next five days and at a rate that’s £40 higher than the usual price.
That’s the cricket craze in England. Even on the 27th of this month, when the Women’s Vitality Blast Final between Surrey and Warwickshire was held, the hotel was packed with fans wanting to catch the match live.
With a knowing grin, the front office staff told me, “The moment bookings flood in like crazy, we know there’s a match at The Oval.”
Yesterday, walking back from the ground with colleagues Debasis Sen and Rohan Chowdhury, I spotted something quietly poetic near the Oval station: a red postbox with a golden plaque. It read:
“This postbox celebrates ICC Cricket World Cup victories for the England Men’s cricket team on 14 July 2019 and the England Women’s cricket team on 23 July 2017.”
Imagine that, a postbox commemorating a World Cup triumph! It speaks volumes.
Whatever the outcome of this current series, the sheer love for the game here, especially for Test cricket, is moving. In an age where the longest format is constantly questioned, doubted, and often dismissed in favour of modern, shorter versions, England stands firm as a guardian of the tradition.
Some may argue it’s unfair that the next three World Test Championship finals will be hosted in England. But when you witness the affection this country has for the format, the fans, the sell-out crowds, the postboxes, even the hotel names, you can’t help but feel that perhaps, just perhaps, it’s right.
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