As Lord's reaches 150 not out, this most special of sporting venues has stood the Test of time

LORD's will become the first ground to reach 150 Test matches today when England's series against New Zealand gets under way.

- BY NEIL SQUIRES

As the teams make their way through the Long Room and onto that cherished circle of London green, they will be walking through history.

Since hosting its first Test in 1884, Lord's has become part of the fabric of the English summer. As global cricket theatres go, Lord's has nothing of the size of an MCG but it has managed, through all its upgrades, to maintain the feel of a cricket ground. And, watched over by Father Time, a special one at that. There really is little in the sporting world to match its sense of occasion.