| Cricket only has
one real home. Lord’s, owned by the Marylebone Cricket
Club [map] (the MCC), is the spiritual venue of the sport. The
MCC is the guardian of the laws and the spirit of cricket.
Contrary to what many people may think, Lord’s is
not named because of any connection to peerage and aristocracy
but after its founder, Thomas Lord.
Lord’s, located at St John’s Wood, attracts
thousands of visitors every year and is regarded by all
involved in cricket as one of the world’s best sporting
venues.
The ground is extremely busy. Lord’s plays host
to test matches, one-day internationals, Middlesex County
Cricket Club’s home games and a variety of novelty,
village and club cricket finals. Yet it is behind the
practical use of its wickets that the huge sceptre of
the history of Lord’s can be found.
In addition to being home to the England & Wales Cricket
Board (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC),
Lord’s is also the setting for the state-of-the-art MCC Indoor School, the unrivalled MCC
Library, and the world-famous MCC Museum.
The museum contains the world famous Wisden Trophy and the Ashes urn.
The public can visit Lord’s to get a behind-the-scenes
intimate peak at what makes the historic ground tick.
Sights to be seen include the Long Room, part viewing
area and part art gallery. Players have to walk through
the long room to reach the pitch on a match day.
In the same Pavilion people can find a series of honours
boards noting the achievements of legendary batsmen and
bowlers.
The MCC Museum brings the fascinating story of cricket
to life. Paintings, photographs and artefacts, covering
400 years of cricket history, reveal the game's development
from a rural pastime to a modern and increasingly international
sport.
Also on the site is the MCC’s state-of-the-art indoor
school and a tennis court where Real Tennis is still played.
Although rooted in history, Lord’s refuses to dwell
in the past. The Mound Stand and Grand Stand are exceptional
places from which to watch the action unfold.
Lord’s also contains the breathtaking NatWest Media
Centre, a unique piece of architecture suited to the high
demands of the world’s sporting media.
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