IN a summer of sport, many eyes on this continent will turn west to watch the ‘lord of cricket’ play at the home of cricket, Lord’s, writes Abu George.
It’s an enticing match that is the start of a four-match series between the world’s leading Test nation, India, playing away against one of the sport’s form teams, England.
It’s an intriguing contest in its own right although there are plenty of sub-plots. First and foremost, many fans, including neutrals, will be hoping that Sachin Tendulkar will achieve his quest for his one hundredth hundred. Romantics will pray that he achieves this at Lord’s.
He may consider Lord’s to be a home from home. He is an honorary member of the MCC and owns a property just down the road.
Another feature of this test series is the return to England of former coach Duncan Fletcher in his new capacity as head coach of India. The Lord’s Test marks Fletcher’s 100th in charge of a national team, the first to reach this milestone.
And England’s best asset could be the weather.
Has anyone ever seen a visiting Asian team perform to its full potential with the players wearing three thick sweaters protecting them from the harsh English summer?