A first Ashes Test at Lord's

Walking into Lord’s and suddenly I remember I’ve never been to an Ashes Test there. I spent three years in London, starting in 2001, but couldn’t get tickets for the big match. Instead I had to be satisfied with seeing Australia lose to Middlesex in a one-day game and learning of a great pub crawl starting at the Lord’s Tavern and ending at Warwick Avenue tube. The following summer, by which time that hangover had finally eased, I went to the India Test and a 50-over final as well as a few county games. Suddenly I’m more excited – only two more sleeps!

Inside the ground there are tour groups full of green-and-gold decked tourists who trawl in awe through the ground, media centre and museum, where the urn sits along with the Sheffield Shield (at least that’s a temporary exhibit; the Ashes live here). While photos are being taken on the edge of the ground I spot a chance to step on to the outfield, but the staff are quick to block it off. If only I was swifter on my feet.

In the afternoon some of the game’s bigger names talk after their MCC cricket committee meeting. Steve Waugh is there, attracting my stares as I remember his great deeds before both our hairstyles started to change colour, and Geoffrey Boycott, who dominates when he speaks and even gets his panelists to laugh at the forceful mode of delivery. Rahul Dravid is deferential, sweating when he pats back an answer on whether India would warm to a World Champions of Test cricket.

There is talk of umpiring and dead pitches, pink balls and day-night Tests, Twenty20 and IPL, but the only mention of the Ashes is allowed when the Spirit of Cricket issue is raised about Sunday’s finish in Cardiff. Outside the teams are training, the pitch is being rolled and the ground is being polished. It’s the only contest being discussed – except in here.