Third day of the Test

As it will all about Joe Root – rightly so – I thought I might post more about the Lords experience from the debenture level.

Admission is less of a palaver as the Covid restrictions have been eased and left at the discretion of the person.

However you still have to show  your e-ticket, have your bag searched and then a body examination.

Then you proceed to the debenture entrance in the Mound Stand.

The previous stewards – an Australasian lady with dyed black hair and a florid faced man – have been replaced by members of the armed services. One of these gives you a daily wristband.

The debenture  level is on the third tier. The first are seats, the second boxes, the third debentures.

There is a wide concourse with a bar at each end between restaurants. There are almost incessant announcements from the PA system   The MC like most MC s does not know how to stay silent

You have a dedicated seat which has a cushion and ample leg room. My view is side on. It’s therefore a most comfortable way to watch cricket.

Neighbours are important and mine to my right is a jovial ex-City solicitor from Linklaters and Paine who loves all form of sport.

My neighbour to my left has 4 seats and is a planning silk.

He tends to arrive bearing cool boxes of Veuve Cliquot and snacks and gets stuck in straightaway. He was not there yesterday and a family had his seats.

The son was the type of noisy, badly behaved, public school wanker I loathe.

At one point he was loudly explaining down his mobile some airline reservation, apparently quite oblivious that others were trying to watch the cricket.

The other debenture holders are well-heeled and the customary form of dress is  blue jacket, faun trousers and brown shoes.

You see the odd MCC tie, its wearer letting you know that he is primus inter pares.  

At £465 annual sub the MCC would not make much money from them and they tend to assert their rights quite vocally, so the debenture membership now applied to every new stand, is a clever wheeze.

The cost of a debenture is much more than the MCC sub – unlike Wimbledon there is no market in them – they are redeemable in 75 years and you just have the right to buy your own seat.

I very  much enjoy being a debenture holder and intend to renew at the end of 2022.  The debenture have set it up as a club with its own tie and events.

I have always envied those who could say they’ve watched Jack Hobbs.

I have a feeling that fans will say the same of Joe Root.  At 30 he should overtake Alistair Cook as our most prolific Test batsman and possibly – in this rich vein of form – Tendulkar of all time.

The burden of captaincy has not shackled him now and he carried the bat to keep his side in the game without offering a chance.

He seems to be enjoying himself at the square more. He is adapt against all forms of bowling in any conditions and his judgment and technique are first rate.

In the absence of Ben Stokes he is by far our best batsman though Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali played valuable supporting roles.

Root has proved that his place at the top table of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith is fully justified.

I can only recall Gary Sobers giving a generous declaration so, unless England can make a break-through today ,a draw is the likeliest result.