Is nothing sacred? Cricket's cathedral comes under siege

As Lord's media briefings go, it was already far from run-of-the-mill. Given the nature of the story, which was already dominating news networks and had attracted big-hitting political correspondents of the calibre of the BBC's Andrew Marr to cricket's headquarters, it was always going to be politically sensitive. But it turned out to be eye-widening stuff.

At the outset, all was normal. In so far as a visit to Lord's can be in mid-January for connoisseurs of the summer sanctum. The re-turfed outfield lying untrodden by men in white flannels, as preparations continued for the still-distant 2003 season. And in the indoor cricket school, the general setting-up operation - cameramen and soundmen checking their equipment, wires and other paraphernalia.

But then what? Apparently from nowhere (in fact the North Gate, which had been stormed by a handful of so-called "peaceful protesters") a gaggle of banner-waving anti-Mugabe demonstrators. Fists flailed and blows were exchanged.

Make no mistake, this was breaking and entering. But as a means of influencing the media it served its purpose to the letter. The very room that the England and Wales Cricket Board had earmarked for the media briefing was invaded, and the man you might expect to pop up when there's a demonstration, Peter Tatchell, was holding court. Cricket and Peter Tatchell? Hmm.

For a while it became predictable. Banners waved for the cameras, slogans were chanted, sound bites secured. But then the drama reared its bizarre head again. A Zimbabwean woman presented for interview, allegedly a victim of the Mugabe regime's oppression, got no more than a few words into her story before collapsing on the floor. Heaven knows what became of her - hopefully nothing too serious.

When they eventually held their own media briefing an hour and a half later than planned, the ECB made their collective feelings known, moving to another room to make their widely expected announcement that England's World Cup match in Zimbabwe would go ahead.

The drama in the original room had abated. Cricket's headquarters could return to winter somnolence. Rather like the seasoned hack who stayed rooted in his seat throughout the protest, devouring the column inches of his favoured broadsheet, not deigning to lift an eye to the chaotic scenes around him.

Whatever it was, you can rule out cricket. Who said it was only a game?