Lord's Test Ticket Prices Soar, Sparking Fan Outrage

Lord’s Test Ticket Prices Soar, Sparking Fan Outrage

The upcoming Lord’s Test between India and England has sparked controversy over its exorbitant ticket prices, despite a lukewarm response to the recent Test against Sri Lanka. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), owner of Lord’s, has faced criticism for its pricing strategy, which has seen a significant increase compared to previous matches.

The five-match Test series between India and England commences on June 20, with the third game scheduled at Lord’s from July 10. The cheapest tickets for the Lord’s Test are priced at £90, offering restricted views. For unrestricted views, fans will have to pay between £120 and £175, according to ESPNcricinfo.

In contrast, tickets with restricted views for the Test against Sri Lanka last month ranged from £115 to £140. The match ended on day four with only 9,000 spectators in attendance, filling just one-third of the stadium’s capacity.

Former England cricketer David Lloyd has vehemently criticized the increased ticket prices. “No doubt Lord’s will still be full, but increasing ticket prices to a whopping £175 for next July’s third Test between England and India beggars belief,” Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

Lloyd expressed concern that Test cricket is becoming an “elite showpiece,” inaccessible to a wider cross-section of society. He questioned the decision-making process behind the pricing, asking, “Who actually sets the price? Name names. Who says: I think it should be X? And who responds: Aye, seems about right.”

Lloyd emphasized that the high ticket prices are out of reach for many fans. “I’m the voice of the everyday fan. So, the face value cost of attending a single day of a Lord’s Test is utterly preposterous to me,” he said.

Social media has been flooded with comments from fans expressing their inability to afford the tickets. “Times are tough at the minute. I’m retired, and I can’t justify £120-175 pound. That doesn’t fit my priorities,” Lloyd concluded.

The MCC has yet to respond to the criticism, but the issue of ticket pricing is likely to continue to be a topic of debate as the Test series approaches.

Lord's Test Ticket Prices Rise Again, Drawing Criticism

Lord’s Test Ticket Prices Rise Again, Drawing Criticism

Lord’s Test Ticket Prices Soar Again, Sparking Criticism

Despite facing backlash for exorbitant ticket prices during the recent Sri Lanka Test, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced another price hike for next year’s Lord’s Test against India.

For the first three days of the India Test, starting July 10, 2024, the cheapest adult tickets are restricted-view seats priced at £90 each, while under-16s can purchase them for £20. Tickets with a clear line of sight range from £120 to £175 for adults and £40 to £50 for under-16s.

These prices are significantly higher than those for the Sri Lanka Test in August 2023, where unrestricted views cost between £115 and £140 for adults and £15 to £40 for concessions.

The Sri Lanka Test concluded on the fourth day, with only 9,000 tickets sold, approximately one-third of the stadium’s capacity. This was partly attributed to England’s fast-paced approach to Test cricket, resulting in several recent matches ending well before the final day.

MCC faced further criticism for not offering reduced-entry options until after tea on the fourth day, when prices dropped to £15 for adults and £5 for under-16s. However, by that time, only three Sri Lanka wickets remained, and the lack of advance notice prevented a significant increase in attendance.

England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, expressed disappointment over the subdued atmosphere during the Sri Lanka Test. “It was just like ‘jeez, it seems quiet today’,” he said. “It’s a shame it wasn’t a full house because it was obviously a good day’s play.”

Despite MCC’s announcement of a review into its fourth-day pricing policy, there is little concession for fans hoping to attend on that day for the India Test. Under-16s will be admitted for £25, half the cost of the first three days, but tickets with a full view will still cost £90 to £150.

MCC’s rationale is that India is now the second-biggest draw in the English Test calendar, behind Australia, and the prices reflect the expected demand. This policy is in line with other sports, where ticket prices are adjusted based on the popularity of the event.

Lord’s is also set to host the World Test Championship final in June 2025, which is likely to feature India and Australia, a rematch of the 2023 final. Tickets for that match are priced between £70 and £130 for adults and £20 to £50 for under-16s.

England and India will also play a women’s ODI at Lord’s in 2025, with adult tickets ranging from £25 to £45. In contrast, the men’s ODI against South Africa will cost between £75 and £150.

England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord's Test

England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord’s Test

England’s dominance continued on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. After posting a mammoth 344 in their first innings, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 135 and enforced the follow-on.

In their second innings, Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, leaving them with a daunting task of chasing down 430 runs with just eight wickets in hand. Gus Atkinson, who has been a revelation for England this series, claimed the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second innings, adding to his tally of three wickets in the match.

England’s batting performance was led by Joe Root, who scored a magnificent 186 in the first innings. Jonny Bairstow also contributed with a valuable 111, while Ben Stokes chipped in with 56.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain England’s batsmen, with only Lasith Embuldeniya managing to take more than one wicket. The Sri Lankan batsmen, on the other hand, failed to put up any significant resistance, with only Angelo Mathews (49) and Niroshan Dickwella (35) offering some resistance.

With Sri Lanka facing an uphill battle to save the match, England will be confident of wrapping up the contest on Day 4. The hosts need just eight more wickets to secure victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

England's Spin Decision Draws Criticism from Eoin Morgan

England’s Spin Decision Draws Criticism from Eoin Morgan

England’s decision to halt bowling spin on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s has drawn criticism from former captain Eoin Morgan. With Sri Lanka struggling at 24 for 1, England opted to bring on seamers Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root instead of continuing with spin from both ends.

Morgan questioned the decision, citing the poor light conditions and Sri Lanka’s vulnerability. “It’s a questionable decision,” he said. “The reason behind that is just the whole context of the last hour or so: it is dark. There’s a reason the seamers can’t bowl: it is dangerous for everybody concerned.”

He emphasized the advantage England had with Bashir, England’s premium fingerspinner, and the fact that Sri Lanka had promoted Prabath Jayasuriya, a No. 9 batsman, to No. 4. “They’re bowling at a No. 9 at one end. Everything is in England’s favor,” Morgan said. “I question the decision… you have runs to play with, you have two or three new balls, everything in your favor. And yet you’re sitting in the changing room.”

England’s decision to come off the field left a near-capacity crowd at Lord’s disappointed. Captain Joe Root expressed the team’s desire to entertain fans, but acknowledged the safety concerns. “We pride ourselves on wanting people to come into the ground and feel like they’ve had a really enjoyable day of cricket, and can walk away wanting to come back for more Test cricket,” he said.

Ollie Pope, who is deputizing for Ben Stokes as captain, has faced criticism for his leadership. After scoring only 30 runs in four innings across the first two Tests, he was caught in the deep for 17 on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s batting coach Ian Bell expressed hope that his team could still save the game. “The more we can spend time in the middle and that ball gets a bit softer…” he said. “This wicket has been quite a new-ball wicket, if you can get through that. There’s still plenty of batting, and that’s probably been the strength so far this tour: that middle-lower order have got some good runs.”

Kamindu Mendis: Calm and Basics Fuel Remarkable Test Batting Average

Kamindu Mendis: Calm and Basics Fuel Remarkable Test Batting Average

Kamindu Mendis’ remarkable batting average of 92.16 in Test cricket, the second-highest among players with over 500 runs, is a testament to his unwavering focus on the fundamentals. The Sri Lankan batsman, who made his debut two years ago, credits his success to a simple mantra: “Do basic things, and try to keep calm.”

Despite making a promising debut with a half-century, Mendis had to wait for his next opportunity. However, he seized it with both hands, scoring twin centuries against Bangladesh earlier this year. “I knew the batting was packed, but I tried to do as best as I could in the chance that I had,” he said.

Mendis’ absence from the team during his two-year hiatus was not a setback but an opportunity for growth. “Even though I didn’t get to play, I was in the squad and travelling with the team, pretty much every tour,” he said. “Going on so many tours with experienced players on those tours also helped me play well in my first few innings.”

In the recent Test against England in Manchester, Mendis’ first-innings dismissal for 12 was followed by a second-innings century. He forged crucial partnerships with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, who played through a finger injury. “I had a lot of support from the others when I went to bat, both Angie aiya and Chandi aiya,” he said. “Their experience really helped me.”

Mendis’ batting philosophy is simple: “I do basic things, and try to keep calm in the middle.” He dismisses questions about his impressive average, emphasizing his commitment to contributing to the team’s success. “That’s really my only goal: to give as much to my team as possible, whether on the batting front, bowling front, or via fielding.”

For Mendis, playing a Test at Lord’s is a dream come true. “From when I was little, I had a dream to play a Test at Lord’s,” he said. “It’s not just my dream, I think every player has that target. I’ve been able to get there. If we can win this match, it’ll be even more valuable to us.”

Olly Stone Vows to Match Mark Wood's Pace in Lord's Test

Olly Stone Vows to Match Mark Wood’s Pace in Lord’s Test

Olly Stone, the 30-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is set to make his fourth Test appearance for England at Lord’s this week, replacing the injured Mark Wood. Stone has pledged to push his limits and match Wood’s blistering speeds, who clocked 97mph/156kph against West Indies last month.

Stone’s career has been plagued by injuries, including a hamstring issue that sidelined him for most of last season. However, he has made a strong comeback this summer, featuring in 28 matches across formats for Nottinghamshire and London Spirit.

In the absence of Wood, Stone will be tasked with providing England with short, sharp bursts of pace. “It’s been pretty frightening… the way he’s come in and bowled this summer is very exciting,” Stone said of Wood. “Hopefully, I can go out there and try to touch his speeds. He’s obviously up there with the fastest in the world so I’m not sure if I’ll match it – but I’ll give it a good shot.”

Stone made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2019, but underwent back surgery in 2021. He credits the procedure with his return to fitness and his unwavering determination to play Test cricket. “It’s the best thing I ever went in for,” he said. “Thankfully – touch wood – so far, I’ve had no recurrences with that… I’ll keep coming back for Test cricket until my body tells me otherwise.”

Stone’s selection is a testament to England’s focus on attributes over averages. National selector Luke Wright explained that Sam Cook would have been called up if Chris Woakes had been injured, but Stone’s height and left-arm angle gave him the edge over Cook.

England’s XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s:

1. Ben Duckett
2. Dan Lawrence
3. Ollie Pope (capt)
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Jamie Smith (wk)
7. Chris Woakes
8. Gus Atkinson
9. Matthew Potts
10. Olly Stone
11. Shoaib Bashir

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