The Unbeatable Magic of Test Cricket at the Lord's

The World Test Championship final was great because it had compelling cricket, serious bat versus ball stuff, not the mindless bat-bat slaughter of T20s. Bowlers called the shots, and this time the batsmen, asked 'out of syllabus' questions, were running scared.

- Amrit Mathur

Openers from both sides made zeroes while Mitchell Starc the No.9 scored an unbeaten 58—lasting 136 balls, longer than the top five batsmen put together. This was red-ball cricket gold, not fake white-ball slog contests we are used to. The languid subtlety of cricket in the WTC final highlighted the crudity of the shorter format. After the first four overs no runs were scored, and the tense inactivity was far more thrilling than watching 75 smashed in a 6-over Powerplay. Batsmen got in line instead of staying leg side to flay a length ball. Respectful defensive shots instead of savage assaults to balls in the slot.

Test cricket at Lord's on a sun-drenched day, unfolding in an unhurried manner is unbeatable. The 214-year-old home of cricket is an iconic venue that has history, nostalgia and loads of tradition. Its celebrated slope poses a unique challenge as fast bowlers coming down from the pavilion end can find the splice of the bat rather than the middle.

And a spinner's delivery, seemingly harmless, could spit off a length and loop to close-in catchers.