Lord’s is a unique athletic arena that will host the ICC World Test Championship Final for the first time in 2025. To fully appreciate its history and magnificence, one must visit.
It stands alone as a sporting arena for its heritage and tradition thanks to its well-known pavilion and Long Room.
Located in the affluent St. John’s Wood neighbourhood of north-west London, Lord’s has been the site of Test matches since 1884 and has seen a number of memorable events worthy of its loving moniker, “The Home of Cricket.”
When South Africa plays Australia from June 11 to 15, the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 will become the latest in a long line of cricket matches to be played at Lord’s.
Although the ground itself dates back to 1814, Lord’s hosted its first international Test match between England and Australia in 1884.
Since then, the sacred pitch has witnessed such great moments as Don Bradman’s iconic 254 in the 1930 Ashes and Graham Gooch’s 333 for England against India in 1990, which remains the ground’s highest individual Test score.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final has been held at Lord’s five times, most recently in 2019 when England and New Zealand played a thrilling final.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final has also taken place there twice, most notably in 2017 when England defeated India in an exciting final.
The renowned honours boards at Lord’s, which are located in the pavilion and recognise centurions and bowlers who have taken five wickets in an innings or ten in a match, provide a place for South African and Australian stars to join some of the best in the game.
The infamous trek batters must take through the Long Room when called to the crease is only one of the many customs at the renowned stadium.
The Long Room also houses several portraits honouring the great and the good of English and international cricket, including Shane Warne, Sir Ian Botham, Charlotte Edwards, and W.G. Grace.
The striking of the five-minute bell, which is now ceremonial and given to those in the sport, is one of the more recent customs at the historic venue.
One of the oldest sports museums in the world, the MCC Museum, is located in Lord’s, so those seeking a little more history need not go far. The first Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cup trophies as well as the original Ashes urn are part of its collection.
In addition to cricket, Lord’s has hosted baseball, hockey, and lacrosse in the past. Real tennis and rackets are still played on the same property. It also famously hosted the 2012 London Olympics’ archery competition.
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