An “embarrassing” photo shows the members section of the Lord’s Cricket Ground “virtually empty” as England decimated Ireland in a one-off test.
It’s known as the Home of Cricket, but members were clearly less than interested in attending the grounds at St John’s Wood, London to see England take on the Men in Green.
Broadcaster Piers Morgan took a potshot at the lack of interest in the test, posting a photo of the sparsely populated members area.
“Cracking day’s Test cricket and the Lord’s pavilion is virtually empty… embarrassing. What’s the point being a member if you don’t bother to turn up? he wrote.
Aravind Vijayaraghavan blamed companies for buying up tickets.
“Corporate memberships are ruining sports. Cricket, football, the lot. Same goes for over-reliance on season tickets. It has turned these sports from something that most people can enjoy, to something that is used as a corporate tool. And driven prices up in the process. Shameful,” he wrote in response.
The test itself was a fairly one-sided affair with England declaring after posting an enormous 524/4 in response to Ireland’s first innings of 172.
Ollie Pope added 205 to the England score sheet while Ben Duckett scored 182.
The Green and Whites fought back valiantly in the second innings, posting a respectable 362 with the tail wagging vigorously.
Andy McBrine scored a 86 (not out) while Mark Adair top scored with 88.
England needed a mere 12 runs to secure victory in the fourth innings – and Zak Crawley did the business by himself with three 4s. England won the test by 10 wickets.
The test was a virtual warm-up game for England’s upcoming Ashes series against Australia.
The focus in England has been on the readiness of Ben Stokes for the Ashes.
Stokes has struggled with a left knee injury since England’s tour of New Zealand in February.
England’s declaration meant he didn’t have to bat — and the paceman also opted against bowling himself in the lone test.
The all-rounder looked as if he might become the first England captain since Harold Gilligan 93 years ago not to bat, bowl, hold a catch or make a stumping in a Test.
But Stokes avoided joining an exclusive club when he caught Curtis Campher off part-time off-spinner Joe Root during Saturday’s morning session.
The way he then hobbled to join his celebrating teammates was a worrying sign, however, with the Ashes opening against Australia at Edgbaston in less than two weeks on June 16.
Nevertheless, Stokes told a post-match news conference on Saturday: “I bowled this morning (in the nets) for the first time in four weeks and I felt really good. I was real happy with how I bowled.
“I bowled for about 20 minutes and I got through that really well. Obviously I have got time to build up before I push back into flat out but I just landed quite awkwardly when I took that catch.
“I didn’t quite see it so had to adjust myself and landed on my left leg. It twisted in a really strange way but it was fine, I just don’t know what really happened.
“It was one of those things, but I am 32 tomorrow (Sunday) so that probably explains it,” added Stokes after England’s 11th win in 13 Tests since he joined forces with coach Brendon McCullum last year.
– with AFP
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