2.5-Meter Slope At Lord’s: Lord’s is often seen as the most iconic cricket stadium in the world – not just because of its history or the matches played there, but also because of something quite unusual: the slope in the middle of the ground. As India and England gear up for the third Test, the famous Lord’s slope is once again a hot topic among players and fans.
What Makes the 2.5-Meter Slope At Lord’s So Unique?
You don’t usually see slopes like this on modern cricket grounds. Even after several renovations, the slope at Lord’s has stayed put, adding a unique twist to the game. It can be tough for both batters and bowlers to adjust, but it’s also part of what makes the Lord’s experience so special.
The ‘slope’ at Lord’s is actually a noticeable diagonal tilt across the field, running from the Pavilion End in the northwest to the Nursery End in the southeast. The difference in height across the ground is around 2.5 meters (about 8 feet 2 inches), which is quite a lot for a cricket pitch.
Even though it’s not typical for cricket grounds to have such a feature, the slope exists because of the natural landscape of St John’s Wood, where Lord’s was built back in 1814. Over the years, there were talks about leveling the slope, but the practical difficulties involved in doing so meant it was left as it is.
Angus Fraser on the Character of the 2.5-Meter Slope At Lord’s
Angus Fraser, a former England pacer and long-time Middlesex player who played 96 first-class games at Lord’s, once shared his thoughts on how the slope gives the ground its unique character.
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“It’s pretty obvious that if you were building a cricket ground from scratch, you wouldn’t have a slope like this,” Fraser tells The Athletic.
“But it’s something that’s there because it’s been the nature of that piece of land for thousands of years. It flows down from Hampstead Heath (the city’s highest point at 139m/456ft above sea level) into central London and eventually ends up in the River Thames.”
“It’s pretty unique. Grounds in most other countries are newer and pretty flat, but there are similar things on other English cricket grounds. You run down a hill from the Kirkstall Lane End at Headingley (in Leeds), and there’s a bit of a slope downhill at (Nottingham’s) Trent Bridge, but I can’t think of a slope like Lord’s across the ground.”
How the 2.5-Meter Slope At Lord’s Affects Bowlers
When a bowler runs in from the Pavilion End at Lord’s, they’re bowling slightly downhill. This slope at Lord’s can help the ball angle in towards right-handed batters and move away from left-handers, which often leads to more LBW (leg before wicket) chances. Aussie legend Glenn McGrath was famous for using this to his advantage during his career.
On the flip side, bowling from the Nursery End means going slightly uphill. From this end, the ball tends to move away from right-handers and into left-handers. A bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, who has a unique angled run-up, might actually prefer this end.
Batters, too, have to tweak their technique a bit to deal with the slope. It can affect the line and bounce of the ball just enough to keep things interesting – and challenging.
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