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Lord’s On High Alert! Tighter Security And Undercover Guards For India Vs England 3rd Test

Rajgeeta Yadav

Lord’s On Alert [Source: @gargiraut15/X.com]Lord’s On Alert [Source: @gargiraut15/X.com]

The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London has turned into a fortress during the ongoing third Test between India and England. With massive crowds, high stakes and memories of past controversies, the venue has been placed on high security alert, and rightly so.

To begin with, extra security measures have been rolled out, including random security checks on spectators and undercover guards blending into the crowd. This is being done to avoid any disturbances, such as protests or pitch invasions, which have become a worrying trend in recent years.

Increased Security At Lord’s For India-England Test

One may recall that during the Ashes 2023 series, a "Just Stop Oil" protester ran onto the pitch and threw orange paint, halting the match. This kind of chaos is exactly what the authorities are trying to prevent this time around.

As a result, flags and banners have been completely banned at the ground. And that’s not all, officials have introduced stricter protection for players, especially around the pavilion area. 

This move comes after an incident last year, when some members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) verbally abused Australian cricketers, particularly Alex Carey, for running out Jonny Bairstow in controversial fashion. Several MCC members were banned, and the gap between players and members was widened for safety.

Lord’s is packed for this Test match, in fact, it’s hosting its biggest crowd in two years. With over 30,000 fans expected each day, and traveling Indian supporters spending thousands of pounds just to witness the action, it’s no surprise that authorities are not taking any chances. 

England In Control After Day 1

While the off-field focus has been on security, the on-field action has been equally intense. England won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they had to grind for every run as India’s bowlers made life tough under swinging conditions.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started cautiously but were dismissed in the same over by Nitish Reddy, who had a dream debut spell. Then came a steadying partnership between Joe Root and Ollie Pope, who stitched together a solid 109-run stand.

After tea, Ravindra Jadeja struck on the very first ball to dismiss Pope for 44, followed by Jasprit Bumrah removing the dangerous Harry Brook. India looked to claw their way back, but Root (99)* and Ben Stokes (39)* stood firm. The pair added an unbeaten 79-run partnership, steering England to a strong position at stumps.

India will hope to strike early on Day 2 using the fresh second new ball, which is just three overs old.