Lord is Hunting Ground for England
August 25, 2010 by S. Pervez Qaiser
Filed under Stats and Records
England have won 45, lost 27 and drew 46 in 118 Test matches played at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, where the fourth and final Test match of the series between Pakistan and England will be played from August 26 to 30.
Pakistan have won three, lost four and drew six in 13 Test matches played at this ground. One of Pakistan’s four defeats came against Australia last month.
Despite a major rebuilding program in recent years, Lord’s remains a cricket ground as opposed to the largely impersonal stadiums many other leading venues which have become. Playing in a Test at Lord’s, still widely regarded as the home of cricket, remains to many cricketers the pinnacle of a career.
The third of Thomas Lord’s grounds was opened in 1814 and soon became the major venue as cricket became the world’s leading sport in the 19th century. While cricket has been overtaken by other international events, and the game itself has become overtly commercial, Lord’s has retained its place as the spiritual home.
Two ICC Elite Panel umpires for this match, Billy Bowden and Tony Hill of New Zealand will create history by becoming the first neutral umpires from the same country to officiate together in a Test match.
“To umpire with my fellow New Zealander Tony Hill for the first time ever in a Test match will be special,” Billy Bowden, who will be standing in his 62nd Test, said in an ICC statement.
“To be at Lord’s and to create a little piece of history by being the first two neutral umpires from the same country to umpire there makes it super special. Yes, it will be a proud moment for us, our families, New Zealand Cricket and to all our fellow umpires in New Zealand,” he said.
Tony Hill, who like Billy Bowden hails from Auckland, said, “To say I am looking forward to the Lord’s Test is an understatement. “Although I have already stood there for a couple of shorter version games, to get to stand in a Test there is brilliant. To have a Kiwi at the other end is a bonus and the full impact of the occasion probably won’t sink in for a while yet.”
It will be the 20th Test match for Tony Hill.
EACH TEAM’S PERFORMANCE AT LORD’S:
