ICC World Test Championship Final: A guide to Lord's
A unique sporting venue set to host the ICC World Test Championship Final for the first time in 2025, the history and grandeur of Lord's has to be experienced first-hand to be truly understood.
With its famous pavilion and Long Room, it stands alone as a sporting venue for its heritage and tradition.
Nestled in St John's Wood, a prosperous area of north west London, Lord's has hosted Test matches since 1884 and has witnessed a litany of iconic moments befitting of its affectionate nickname, 'The Home of Cricket'.
The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 will join a storied list of cricket matches to take place at Lord's when South Africa face Australia from 11 to 15 June.
Lord's held its first international Test between England and Australia in 1884, though the origin of the ground itself dates back to 1814.
The hallowed turf has since staged feats such as Don Bradman's famous 254 during the 1930 Ashes and Graham Gooch's 333 for England against India in 1990, still the highest individual Test score at the ground.
Lord's has hosted the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final five times, most recently the remarkable 2019 final between England and New Zealand.
It has also twice been the venue for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Final, including the 2017 edition that saw England beat India in a thrilling final.
Stars from South Africa and Australia will hope to join some of the game's finest players on the famous honours boards at Lord's, that sit in the pavilion to commemorate centurions and bowlers who have taken five wickets in an innings or 10 in a match.
It is one of the many traditions at the famous ground, that also includes the notorious walk batters must make through the Long Room when called to the crease.
The Long Room is also host to a number of portraits commemorating the great and the good of both English and international cricket, with the likes of W.G. Grace, Charlotte Edwards, Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne all honoured.
Some traditions are newer at the historic venue, with the now ceremonial ringing of the five-minute bell introduced in 2007, an honour now bestowed to figures within the sport.
Those looking for an extra slice of history do not have to venture far, with Lord's home to the MCC Museum, one of the oldest sports museums in the world. Its collection includes the original Ashes urn and the first Men's and Women's Cricket World Cup trophies.
Cricket is not the only sport Lord's has hosted, with real tennis and rackets still played on the same site while baseball, hockey and lacrosse have all previously taken place. It also memorably hosted archery at the London 2012 Olympics.
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