Why I've always loved Lord's
| 13:12 UK time, Thursday, 16 August 2007
Despite the undoubted success of , Saturday's Friends Provident Trophy final between Durham and Hampshire at Lord's arguably still represents the biggest day in the English domestic season.
For in particular, their first appearance in a major showpiece final at cricket's headquarters is one of the most important landmarks since they were granted first-class status for the 1992 season.
The north-easterners are the last of the 18 first-class counties to reach such a final - but will not need reminding that they were the 17th to so do.
My father introduced me to cricket at an early age. He didn't warn me, though, that following Hampshire tested one's nerve as they made heartbreaking semi-final defeats something of an art form in the 1980s as they chased that elusive Lord's dream. Even the late, great was not unaffected - and was too distraught after one such defeat to collect his man-of-the-match award.
Hampshire eventually got the monkey off their backs by reaching the B&H Cup final in 1988, and the NatWest Trophy final in 1991. Unable to get out of school on either occasion, I had to follow them on the radio - but my affection for Lord's began in 1992 when Hampshire again reached the B&H final. I was there - and I was instantly smitten.
Walking around Lord's on the morning of a major match, one can't help but get the sense of a well-drilled military operation taking place - not surprising, given that MCC's secretaries have included the likes of . From the tempting smell of the hot bacon rolls on sale at the Nursery End in the morning, to the newly-installed drainage that stunned spectators on the (myself included) by allowing play to start just a couple of hours after one of the biggest downpours I've ever seen - everything seems well-organised.
I also remember being impressed, on an early visit, by the fact that you could buy completed, printed scorecards just minutes after close of play. (Maybe I was just more easily impressed in those days). Anyway, Lord's gained a special place in my affections, just as I suppose Wembley might do for first-time visitors watching their team in an FA Cup final.
However, post-1992, Hampshire failed to reach another final for 13 years, so I had to make do with occasional visits for Test matches - where I never seem to get through the day without bumping into someone I know, or hadn't seen for years. It's that sort of place.
I was in the stands two years ago for the as Hampshire took on Warwickshire in a match which was everything a Lord's final should be - with 562 runs and 20 wickets packed into 100 overs, and the game swinging in favour of both sides at different times. Warwickshire had looked on top after pinch-hitter , dubbed "The Unstoppable Six Machine" by Bears fans, launched a brutal early assault on Chris Tremlett before Nick Knight's century put the Midlands side in control.
But Andy Bichel had other ideas - frantically waving his hands in the air at long leg to get the Hampshire supporters going, before returning to bowl a superb second spell and celebrating one wicket with a cartwheel ("the worst cartwheel I've ever seen, and I want you to print that", Hants keeper Nic Pothas told me).
Lord's has been a happy hunting ground for Hampshire, with four one-day final wins from four appearances - but Durham have plenty of match-winners in their side who should not be overawed by the occasion. I'd just recommend to any Durham fans who may not have been to Lord's before: arrive early, walk round and explore the ground, and enjoy the day.
I'll be at Lord's on Saturday, but if you can't make it, I'll be throughout the day and answering your questions and comments. And before then, what are your best memories of Lord's, and what are your hopes for Saturday?
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this will be my wife and i's first visit to Lords. We will be following the hawks and hoping that we bring home the trophy. As long as the rain holds off i cant wait for an excellent day of cricket and a few beers at the home of english cricket. 2 excellent teams packed full of international match winners - should be a classic!
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I'll be at the V Festival relying on updates from my family at Lords hoping Hampshire's 100% record continues. Went to the Glorious Final in 2005 and remember watching the 91 and 92 finals on TV. Gutted not to be there on Saturday, why is the final earlier this year?
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Hants' win in 1992 was also my first domestic Lord's final - it was my 18th birthday and the tickets were a present from my family. My current job means I can't go on Saturday and I'm totally gutted having also missed out two years ago as I was on holiday at the time. I did, however, manage to Sky+ the whole match, avoid the result and then sit up all night upon my return home to watch it!
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Iain,
At the 1992 final, I assume your birthday was on the Saturday? Did you mind that the match went into a second day? I can remember the ground only being about half-full on the Sunday, it was a bit of an anti-climax.
However, you did well to avoid any mention of the result two years ago. Avoiding newspapers, TV, radio, internet, texts from your mates etc isn't quite as easy as it would have been a while ago!
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No, Twenty20 Finals Day is now without question the biggest day in the English Domestic season.
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Loved the article Mark. As yet, I haven't been fortunate enough to visit the home of cricket but hope to rectify this soon. As a Durham supporter I will be there in spirit on saturday. However, in my days watching football, unfortunately the old wembley was in terminal decay - as seemed to be the behaviour of a sizeable minority of the people who came to watch matches there. So when I visited during the 1980s and 90s some of the magic and mystique that I had built up in my head were sadly missing. Let's hope its a great game on saturday and even if Durham don't win this time, surely it won't be long before they win their first trophy as a first class county.
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Lords is undoubtably a magical place and whenever I have gone there I too am overawed by the precision of the whole event (whether it be an international test or just a county match).
However, lest we forget, this magic comes at a less than magical price, which does nothing to help promote the great family sport that cricket is.
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I hope that there is not the rising evidence of football style yobbos at Lords on Saturday. I too was a regular visitor to HQ in the late 80s, 90s and more recently.
I have been saddened to see the unchallenged rise of the football loudmouth - happy to yell abuse, swear and generally make a nuisance of themselves.
Hopefully the authorities at Lords will have the guts to do something about it, particularly during one day games which are now off limits for me.
Thinking about it I don't suppose standards are what they should be when one considers that cricket's hierarchy was quite happy to sell off viewing rights to the highest bidder. Pack 'em in and bums on seats - that's what matters.
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I will be travelling up on Saturday with my 15 yo son - we are both Hawks members.
I am certainly looking forward to a great match, and sorry that Harmy won't be able to play.
Hampshire certainly have the edge regarding bowling, but Durham have a more reliable batting line-up.
Regarding Lords, which I have visited a few times, I was not that impressed for the 1st ODI Eng vs WI last month.
My knees started to ache in the cramped seating and it was frustrating having to queue for ages to get an over-priced burger. I would rather be at The Rosebowl any day.
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Walkgreg:
Agree with you about the old Wembley, I didn't go there until the late 1990s when it was well past its best, although it still made the back of your neck tingle to think of 1966 and all the other great games played there.
Chalk1000:
When I went to the 2005 final, the section of the Mound Stand I was in was roughly 70% Hampshire, 30% Warwickshire fans. Good-natured support, no trouble between the opposing fans at all. The nearest it came to anything ugly was when a group of Southampton fans and a group of Portsmouth fans briefly started taunting each other!
Toby:
Hope you and your son enjoy the day! Sadly, the price of food at sport (not just Lord's, and not just cricket) isn't always completely fair. I'd take a packed lunch!
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I'm also heading down to Lords tomorrow, but as will be the case for most Durham supporters, will have precious little time to walk around the ground due to the lengthy commute. 7am train from Newcastle (meaning a 5:30am wake up call), 3hours+ travel leaves little time to take in the sights and sounds of Lords on a big day.
Equally due to track maintainance around Doncaster trains home are being routed via Leeds adding another hour to the journey home which means if you wish to use public transport to get home from the station the last train you can get leaves Kings cross at 19:30. Here's hoping it doesn't rain!!
Despite the usual travel problems for north east sports fans getting to the capital, I can't wait for the alarm clock to ring.
Come on the Durham!
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Lord's is indeed a special place, even when it is empty it has a sense of history about the place. For my money its the best built for purpose sports ground in the country. By that I mean it creates the perfect atmosphere for a days cricket.
Go Hawks!
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I guess Mark Mitchener is a Hampshire supporter, not sure who they are playing after this report typical southern bias wake up ´óÏó´«Ã½
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Dear Mark,
Whilst I was looking at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ cricket web-page I had the pleasant surprise of reading your thoughts on Lords and the varying fortunes of Hampshire CCC.
I have fond memories of discussing these subjects along with our mutual respect for 3rd tier football teams, during our collective endeavour with Act One back in 1994 when despite our limited acting ability we managed to appear at the Edinburgh Festival.
For the record my first and favourite recollection of Lords is on a winter day in about 1980 during a rare visit to London as a boy. We were passing by the ground and although it was closed, my mum, knowing that I was a cricket fanatic, spoke to one of the officials at the Grace Gates, who let us in to take a look at the ground.
It was a wonderful experience to see the Home of Cricket. It showed me that, like a Church, Lords should be open to everyone.
Of course the Hampshire and Durham supporters deserve first right of entry this Saturday. For the record how about this as an all-time team of Hampshire and England players
1) PHIL MEAD
2) CHRIS SMITH
3) LIONEL TENNYSON
4) KEVIN PIETERSEN
5) ROBIN SMITH
6) COLIN INGLEBYE-MCKENZIE
7) LEO HARRISON
8) CHRIS TREMLETT
9) BOB COTTAM
10)DEREK SHACKLETON
11)ALAN MULLALLY
As for Hampshire's overseas players, I have a distinct memory from Aigburth, Liverpool of Gordon Greenidge hitting a massive six over the pavillion for West Indies Vs Lancashire and Malcolm Marshall being surrounded by autograph hunters on Hampshire's subsequent visit.
Best of luck with the game on Saturday - unfortunately I'll be unable to send in a message as my wife and I have to rescue our boat on the Grand Union Canal.
Will Leng
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Good morning - fond memories from past finals and Radio Solent (!)
About to leave from Pompey - weather and forecast has the 'feel' of 1988 to me and let's hope for a similar day/result. You were at school - back then the pubs shut in the afternoon and even in London we had to queue to get in for a celebratory drink because it finished so early
Enjoy your day Mark - may even say hello later
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Keith:
Sorry to hear about your marathon journey, hope you made it here unscathed - if so, you'll have done better than I did when I left home at 3am to drive up to Old Trafford with two pals for the final day of the 2005 3rd Ashes Test, We didn't even get in - we were among the 20,000 turned away!
Will:
Great to hear from you after all these years. I do remember our university acting days very fondly - you won't be surprised to hear that I still can't do a convincing scouse accent, 13 years on.
As for your all-time Hants/England XI, no room for David Gower? And I might have to find room for a spinner to balance that seam attack - so how about Shaun Udal to replace Mullally (which will also strengthen the batting as Mullally was number 11 entirely on merit). And good luck with the canal boat!
Dave:
Don't think it's going to finish as early as 1988 - though one would hope to avoid the near-dark finish of 1991, or the 1992 final when it went into a second day!
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