T Dexter: Modern Lord's retains noble countenance (3 Jun 1998)

3 June 1998

Modern Lord's retains noble countenance

By Ted Dexter

LORD'S is not what it used to be. The word, I mean, rather than the place. Formerly spoken of in hushed terms as the near-sacred home of cricket, the word now tends to be used generically to describe a kind of corporate body which makes obscure decisions, rather like "Westminster".

It is sad because this downgrading by association of a cricket ground of such style and historical importance is as unfounded as it is wildly wide of the mark. I challenge anyone who has used the word Lord's in a derogatory sense recently, over issues like lady membership of MCC or the failure of the professional game to adopt a two-division championship, to watch even half a day's cricket there without his (or her) cynicism being softened.

You need to be in the right mood, of course; just like going to the theatre. If you are rushed and stressed then half the pleasure may pass you by. So let me share my thoughts on the 26-minute drive from Ealing on the way to watch Middlesex against Glamorgan last Saturday.

There would be at least a glimpse of the admirable Angus Fraser trying to finish off the Welsh team's first innings. Then there was the prospect of one of the world's best fast bowling actions, as demonstrated by Waqar Younis. And with a bit of luck, the spice would come from a battle between Waqar and every housewife's darling, Mark Ramprakash.

As we all know, cricket seldom sticks to the script and it was only the reliable Fraser who acted the part. Waqar ran in sluggishly from the Nursery End and slung the ball down with his arm so low he might have been warned for bowling "unders". So a young upstart called Justin Langer feasted on the half-volleys and long hops and the score rattled along.

The sun shone, and the massive new grandstand looked for all the world like one of the new breed of cruise ships ready to slip anchor and sail away. Five million pounds worth of "media centre" was noisily taking shape behind scaffolding and it was with a sigh of relief that the scale and shape of the modernistic structure was seen to be clearly acceptable alongside the other towering buildings. So much to catch the eye and yet it was again the cricket that took over.

Enter Ramprakash, smart and more obviously relaxed than of old. To the critical eye, his early defence was still too square-on for comfort and in one of the best captaincy moves I have seen for some time, Matthew Maynard grabbed his chance.

Waqar Younis was taken off and Watkinson switched to the Nursery End. Despite the lively scoring rate and an apparently docile pitch, Maynard kept his slip cordon in place and it was Croft who rewarded him with a stunning catch at third slip. Depart Ramprakash, with the thought that a long-time frailty outside off stump is still there to be exploited.

It was time to take a stroll and to check once again just what it is that 45 per cent of voting fellow MCC members find difficult about sharing their sturdy old pavilion with members of the fairer sex. The Long Room held exactly eight males, each an individual, no chat. Is that what is feared? That supermarket gossip will break the sepulchral silence.

My reaction is simply one of personal observation. Ladies of my acquaintance are no more chatty in church than the males and I see no reason why the impressive atmosphere of the great room should not restrain both sexes equally, despite the minor change of religion.

There was still time to encounter another reminder of forward thinking and progress at what remains a wonderful cricket ground. The unique new "hover-cover", extremely mobile for the groundstaff, is a device which will at last solve the problem of water running down the north-south slope and ruining months of pitch preparation. Let me remind you. Lord's is more of a modern miracle than a name to be derided.

ANOTHER pleasant reminder that cricket is what matters more than the game's uneasy politics came from an idyllic afternoon as guest of a sprightly Sir Paul Getty at his "country house" ground at Wormsley.

Top-class cricket was assured by the presence of South Africans Shaun Pollock and Pat Symcox, among others. The freckle-faced Pollock has a natural charm which is not always the prerogative of fast bowlers but the occasional express ball was enough to dispel thoughts that England might be smiling at Edgbaston tomorrow.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)