Lord's Cricket Ground Explained
The history, significance, and unique characteristics of Lord's Cricket Ground — the Home of Cricket in St John's Wood, London.
What Is Lord's Cricket Ground?
Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London is universally known as the 'Home of Cricket'. It is the headquarters of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the body that owns and interprets the Laws of Cricket, and hosts some of the most important fixtures in the game: Ashes Tests, ICC finals, and the iconic Middlesex vs other county fixtures. Lord's has hosted more Test matches than any other ground in the world.
History of Lord's
Thomas Lord opened the original ground in 1787, moving it twice before settling on the current St John's Wood location in 1814. The MCC, founded in 1787, has been based at Lord's since its establishment and remains the custodian of the Laws of Cricket. The Long Room — the famous members' pavilion corridor through which players walk to the field — dates from the Victorian era and is one of cricket's most storied spaces.
Famous Moments at Lord's
- The 1975 Cricket World Cup Final — West Indies beat Australia in the first World Cup final
- Ian Botham's sensational 149* in the 1981 Ashes Test
- The 2019 Cricket World Cup Final — England vs New Zealand, decided on boundary count after a Super Over tie
- Shane Warne's ball of the century — not at Lord's but every Warne Lord's appearance generated incredible atmosphere
- Graham Gooch's 333 in a Test innings against India in 1990
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Lord's Cricket Ground?
Lord's is owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), a private members' club with over 18,000 members. The MCC has been the custodian of cricket's Laws since 1788 and holds the copyright on all Laws of Cricket.
What is the capacity of Lord's Cricket Ground?
Lord's currently holds approximately 30,000 spectators. An ongoing redevelopment project has been underway to increase capacity while preserving the ground's historic character.