Cricket with a side of popcorn: The Hundred lights up Lord’s with fireplace, fun & future vision | Cricket News – Times of India

TimesofIndia.com in London: A go to to the Lord’s on Tuesday felt a bit completely different. Two weeks again, the neighbourhood was buzzing for the India-England Test on the iconic venue, ticket resellers have been on an overdrive and the turnstiles noticed hundreds go in on what turned out to be a thrilling recreation of cricket.Cut to Tuesday, the gates of the Home of Cricket opened once more however for the season opener of The Hundred. The venue was shining in its full glory underneath lights and there was a lot of exercise on the concourse the place households have been out in massive numbers for a night of cricket, even on a weekday. It wasn’t as busy because the Test however the quite a few meals carts and beer faucets have been in enterprise as typical.Inside, the largely stuffed stadium was dancing to the tunes of the DJ and never swaying to the Barmy Army trumpet. There was a good fireplace present after a wicket or a boundary and the occasional fan engagement – loudest fan of the day and random fan cams on the large display – made positive there was one thing for everybody. The product is clearly packaged in a method which appeals to everybody – the cricket lovers and the households.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Spectators watch as a fox runs previous Ryan Higgins of London Spirit in the course of the The Hundred match between London Spirit Men and Oval Invincibles Men at Lord’s Cricket Ground on August 05, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

There have been three large screens contained in the stadium and curiously, two of them solely talked about balls and runs. No batter, bowler names or the main points of the innings underway. No distractions and only one large display, on the left of the media centre flashed the detailed scorecard. Unlike the Test, there was a wholesome footfall of younger youngsters and once they received bored of the cricket, the concourse turned their very own pitch.

For first-timers, the format will take a while getting used to. The concept of hundred deliveries, no point out of overs requires some consideration however when you get the dangle of it, cricket, prefer it at all times does, takes over. The first males’s competitors fixture between London Spirits and Oval Invincibles was a bit dampener so far as cricket is worried however it was a very wholesome turnout with future house owners, after the latest funding drive, retaining a shut tab from the hospitality suites.Both groups have been unable to finish the quota of hundred deliveries because the London unit was dismissed for 80 off simply 94 and Oval had a snug chase in simply 69 balls. There was no dearth of star energy within the center with Rashid Khan, David Warner, Kane Williamson and others in motion, and there was a loud cheer for the Afghan when his face flashed on the large display throughout a submit-match chat.

Winds of change have already gripped the match and whereas the brand new house owners will are available in with a recent method and set of concepts, the foremost precedence needs to be to construct on the London rivalry. Not a super comparability, however no less than assume on the traces of soccer. Adequate star energy, participant continuity and the appropriate course may make that occur.There might be challenges: Lack of historical past, fan join and steady engagement however whether it is made into a 12 months-lengthy exercise as an alternative of simply the match window, one thing very massive could possibly be developed.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Musician Mick Jagger watches in the course of the The Hundred match between London Spirit Men and Oval Invincibles Men at Lord’s Cricket Ground on August 05, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“That looks like the idea but there will be a lot of challenges to have that kind of connection with the people. With the people who feed on Test cricket because of the history and other things. For starters, it just cant be restricted to the tournament’s window and that’s where the new owners would like to come in. If you work in a particular direction, who knows how big this London rivalry of cricket can become,” says an business supply monitoring developments within the UK.The opener ended sooner than typical, the bars have been shut at 9pm however the households caught round for a bit. Cricket continued on the concourse and on the best way out, the resellers have been nonetheless at it. Either on the lookout for spare tickets for tomorrow or promoting theirs.