Watching a match at the Lords Stadium

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After almost 7 years, I went into the Lords stadium recently. It is visible from our living room, so honestly its doesn't seem as exciting now. But still seeing India-England play gives it a certain sense of newness which I enjoyed...

Thankfully, the match we saw was the only one in this Test Series which India won. So the whole experience turned out even better for us. Would have been terrible if we had got tickets for any of the ones after this one...

Anyways couple of interesting observations based on my day out in the field:

Watching a match at Lords feels a bit underwhelming. Its something about the crowd but its very formal and subdued. There are very few spectators holding posters, no Mexican waves, and no loud cheering. All the cheering is what you would call 'stiff British upper lip' type with the men in jackets standing and clapping, saying 'Well done boys, well done'! Its just not how I am used to seeing a cricket match and it just felt too boring, too quiet, too lack lustre. Its not that the British cannot be more enthusiastic in their display of emotions - its just a difference in the fan following for the game. All the gentlemen follow cricket, while the masses follow football:).

The England team towers above the Indians just because of their height and build. You can just look at the players in the ground and immediately group them into the Indians and the English. It was more obvious for the Australians earlier, but now is true for the English team too.

For most of the days, English fans dominated the Indian fans. There was not a sound in the stadium when an English wicket fell, but the whole stadium would roar with claps when the opposite happened. Just goes to show how Test matches have limited fan following with Indians.

Given the recent happenings, there was boo-ing in the crowds everytime Jadeja came onto the field. I felt that was a bit childish of the English crowd - no decision had been made till then, wasn't for them to judge on the field!

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