Historic Lord's Provides 'Special' Stage For Ashes Test

Lord's will provide a fitting backdrop to this week's Ashes drama as the spiritual 'Home of Cricket' hosts the second Test between England and Australia.

AFP Sport looks at the story of the world's most famous cricket ground:

The history

When the Marylebone Cricket Club was founded in 1787, its first home was Dorset Fields, a venue in north-west London chosen by ambitious entrepreneur Thomas Lord.

In 1814, MCC moved up the road to St John's Wood, the site of the current Lord's ground.

Lord eventually sold the ground to a Bank of England director, William Ward, for £5,400 ($6,800), but his name lives on.

In 1877, MCC invited Middlesex to adopt Lord's as its county ground, an arrangement which continues to this day, with the venue also staging England Test matches at least once, and often twice, every year.

The Honours Board

Every cricketer who plays at Lord's dreams of getting their name on the honours boards that hang in the home and away dressing rooms.

By scoring a century, taking five wickets in an innings or 10 wickets in a Test match at Lord's, a player ensured their name was added to the boards.

In 2019, the boards were overhauled, with centuries and five-wicket hauls in limited overs internationals, in both men's and women's matches, now also recognised.

Many of cricket's all-time greats have earned their place on the boards, including Don Bradman, Ian Botham and Viv Richards, but a few have missed out, among them Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne.

"Attention to detail and keeping the tradition alive is what makes Lord's so special," former India spinner Anil Kumble said.

The slope

Canny bowlers can steal an advantage at Lord's thanks to the slope that runs from the north end of the ground to the