At the test

Lord’s cricket ground held a test match in August 2019, and that was it for international matches until today. Last summer’s tests were played in “bio-secure” venues, meaning grounds with hotels on site. These did not include the home of cricket.

Today though saw the first day of the England v. New Zealand match.  The government’s rules allowed 7,000 people into the ground, instead of the normal capacity of 30,000.

Whisper it, but it was a better day than for many a full house. The sun shone. There were enough people there to give the ground its renowned buzz of conversation, but the corporate freeloaders were absent and the ground had a relaxed, contented air to it.

It is raining now in London, but the weather forecast for the rest of the match is for warm, bright days. Here’s hoping.