Lord's Cricket Ground: The Home of Cricket Explained
Lord's in London is the spiritual home of cricket — the oldest and most prestigious Test venue in the world. Discover its history, the famous slope, the Long Room, and why playing at Lord's is every cricketer's dream.
Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London, is universally known as the Home of Cricket. Founded by Thomas Lord in 1814 (the current site — his third ground), it is headquarters of both the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the Laws of Cricket, and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The Famous Slope
Lord's is famous for its slope — the ground falls by approximately 2.5 metres from the Grandstand (north-west) to the Tavern Stand (south-east). This unique gradient affects how the ball bounces and moves, particularly for right-arm over-the-wicket bowlers who bowl from the Pavilion End. Bowlers who master the slope gain a significant advantage.
The Long Room
The Pavilion's Long Room is cricket's most famous corridor. Players walk through it to reach the field; MCC members line the room during Tests to applaud (or sometimes boo) departing batters. The Long Room contains portraits of great cricketers and is exclusive to MCC members — the waiting list for membership has typically run to 30+ years.
Key Records at Lord's
- Garfield Sobers hit Malcolm Nash for six sixes here in 1968 (actually Swansea — a common confusion; Lord's hosted other Sobers feats)
- Glenn McGrath took 8/38 in the 1997 Ashes Test
- England vs New Zealand 2019 ODI World Cup Final — the super over finish
- The Ashes Urn is permanently housed at Lord's — it never travels even when Australia wins
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lord's called the home of cricket?
Lord's has been the headquarters of the MCC — the custodians of the Laws of Cricket — since 1814. It is the oldest continuously used cricket ground of its stature and hosted the game's first codified laws.
How long is the waiting list for MCC membership?
The MCC waiting list has historically been 20-30 years. Membership gives access to the Pavilion and Long Room during major matches at Lord's.