England v Pakistan, Lord's, London, England

28 Aug 26

England v Pakistan

Second Rothesay Men's Test Match

Lord's

London, England

My first visit to Lord's for Day 2 of the 2nd test against Pakistan. The Men's team has had a re-shuffle since Ben Stokes retired from international duty and Yorkshire's Joe Root is now Captain. So far so good

The morning session at Lord’s was bathed in sunlight with picture-postcard clouds scattered across the sky. The day was only briefly interrupted by a 30-minute rain shower at 3pm.

£117 - Oooh! Suits you Sir

England v Pakistan Men’s Test Match	England 1st	England 2nd	Pakistan 1st	Pakistan 2nd	Result
1st T: Headingley, 19-23 Aug	409 ao		171 ao	135 ao	England win by Innings +103 runs
2nd T: Lords,  27-31 Aug	290 ao	208 ao	110 ao	194 ao	England win by 194 runs
3rd T:Edgbaston,  9-13 Sep

Day 2 Highlights

Entering Lord's through the main MCC entrance at Grace Gate with the Tavern Stand in the background

Today I'm in the Edrich Stand (Upper - Block 9)

The WG Grace Stature in Coronation Garden

Thomas Lord's heavy horse drawn stone roller used to make the wicket playable between 1787-1814

In the MCC Museum is the famous Ashes urn. It is only 10.5 cm high and is believed to contain the ashes of a cricket bail used during a game on 29 Aug 1882 when Australia defeated England at the Kennington Oval. It was presented to the English team which toured Australia in 1882-83 who won the series 2:1, bringing the Ashes home!

The Edrich Stand, Barclay's Media Centre and Compton Stand taken from the Nursery Pavilion

Batsman

Bowler

Barclay's Media Stand with the Edrich stand to the right 

The Compton Stand

The Morning session begins with fair conditions and the English tail enders at the crease

The Morning session and the start of play

The Pavilion is packed with MCC members and playing staff

The Warner stand (refurbished in 2012) 

Grey floodlight above the Edrich stand

The space age Media Centre popping out of the stands

The 'slope' rises 2.5m across the field to the Grandstand 

There is currently a 27-29 year wait for MCC full membership, although you might get offered associate membership after 7-9 yrs but you still will not gain access to the 'long room' on big match days

The distinct canopies of the Mound Stand were designed to replicate Marquees at village cricket events. In the centre is the Tavern Stand where the original Tavern was located in 1867 (demolished in 1966). Next to the Pavilion the upper Allen Stand is designed to accommodate the growing MCC membership but the lower stand is available to the public

The Grandstand was opened in1998 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and was the original home of the Father Time Weathervane which is now on top of the clock tower opposite

The Pavilion opened in 1890 and is Grade II listed

The 'slope' rising from the Mound stand to the Grandstand

Shan caught by Smith off Archer for 1. Pakistan trail by 274

At lunch I meet Charlie, Tyrone and Bish's ex Brother-in-law

Rain is coming 

3pm and rains delays play

Father Time give us a clue!

30 mins later and the covers are off

Mark (Inverness) and John (Somerset)

Afternoon session is coming to a close

At tea Pakistan are 110 all out after 37.2 overs. England's 2nd innings finishes 81 for 3

Bad light ends play early with England leading by 261 with 7 wickets remaining. Day 3 has rain forecast😮

England v Pakistan, Headingley, Leeds, England

19 Aug 26

England v Pakistan

First Rothesay Men's Test Match

Headingley

Leeds, England

Our first visit to Headingley for Day 1 of the 1st test against Pakistan. The Men's team has had a re-shuffle since Ben Stokes retired from international duty and Yorkshire's Joe Root is now Captain

England v Pakistan Men’s Test Match	England 1st	England 2nd	Pakistan 1st	Pakistan 2nd	Result
1st T: Headingley, 19-23 Aug	409 ao		171 ao	135 ao	England win by Innings + 103 rs
2nd T: Lords,  27-31 Aug
3rd T:Edgbaston,  9-13 Sep

Day One Highlights

Despite the early rain there are plenty of wickets taken and at  close of play Pakistan are all out for 171 and England are chasing hard, ending play on 112 for 2

The storm clouds are already gathering on Day One of the 1st Test at Headingley but this is Yorkshire and play is under way

Western Terrace (Block B)

We enter through the Kirkstall Lane entrance

Our seats are in Block B of the Western Terrace

A proper cricket ground

The Pavilion is the main members' stand at the Kirkstall Lane End and is considered to have the best view in the ground. 

The Scoreboard/Replay Screen are dominated by the Headingley Parish Church

The Howard Stand is immediately to my right and is the new £45m stand that was built together with the North Stand of the Rugby League club which backs on to it.  Straight in front is the East Stand which is the largest single stand and houses the Headingley Lodge Hotel and the YCCC museum

The West Terrace is the rowdy 'Party Stand' which the Barmy Army usually frequent. For the less rowdy, the '1863' and 'Popular' enclosures do not allow fancy dress 

"Yorkshire, Yorkshire"

After about an hours play the rain came in, so we headed down the pub for an early lunch

War Memorial in Headingley

The Skyrack pub is  a Grade 11 listed 19th century building. It's name derives from the Old English "Scir ac" which means Shire Oak. During the Viking period a court (wapentake) would meet under the oak to resolve disputes, make decisions and muster for war. The oak tree finally collapsed in 1941 and now all that is a plaque in the pub opposite, 'The Original Oak'.

I fell in love with this Ale

YCCC are the most successful county in England

betfair are sponsors of YCCC

The afternoon session is looking gloriously promising

 Panning across the grounds

At the start of the rain delayed 2nd session Pakistan are 42-2

Simon Finch is the new Barmy Army trumpeter, taking over the responsibility from Billy Cooper in 2020

Draco Malfoy fails to down his pint in one and must therefore pay the price for his failure

Yorkshire Rose is shining bright

 Pakistan are 101-3 and that is about as good as it would get as they were bowled out for 171

The late afternoon sun is out and England are into bat

Beautiful Headingley

With the day coming to close England are 103 for  2

Hide the snake!!

Feed the snake and it will grow !

Simon on the trumpet

Barmy Army

After play we went to the Skyrack to meet Marti and John and then onto the Highland Laddie which was voted No 1 Best Pub in Britain 2025 by the Good Food Guide