Sunday 8th June 2025, T minus 3 days and counting, James King shares his Proteas practice experience at Lord’s.

There’s blue sky above as I approach the North Gate at Lord’s. The practice for the Proteas starts at 9.30 am, but I get there earlier. 

I have the necessary checks done by the officials and I enter Lord’s for the first time. First impressions often count the most. The home of cricket does not disappoint. 

Ground staff are busy preparing the nursery field for the imminent arrival of the South African team. Elsewhere, the team that installs the electronic signage around the boundary are unpacking their units. A very helpful steward named Bob comes across to me and chats about what I can and can’t do, where I can go and assists me in finding my way to the Media Centre. 

First things first, I think. I see a flight of stairs ahead of me, leading to the Compton Stand. As I emerge from the stairwell, a world of history appears before me. I am almost mesmerized as I look towards the famous pavilion, home of the longroom, and the balconies, on which so many of cricket’s heroes have stood, both in triumph and defeat. 

The outfield at Lord’s is lush and green as if a carpet has been laid over the whole ground. It is immaculately prepared for this clash of the Test Match titans. I stand in awe. 

After catching my breath, I head towards the spaceship-looking media centre. Built for the 1999 World Cup, it has become another of the iconic features at Lord’s. As I exit the lift, my eyes are drawn to the names of the Chairs and Presidents of the Cricket Writers’ Club. Many of cricket journalism’s luminaries are there, including Brian Johnston, John Arlott, Richie Benaud and Christopher Martin-Jenkins. Standing among giants seems an appropriate phrase to employ.

The view from the Media Centre gives a different perspective to the ground. The entire playing surface is visible, and one of the first things you notice is that the Lord’s slope is quite pronounced. It has its high at the Grandstand side, and its low at the Mound and Tavern Stand side. You just don’t get this perspective on TV, I think to myself. 

The players and support staff start to make their way onto the hallowed turf. First up it is fielding and catching routines before they will move to the nursery nets. I am interested in the slip-catching practice. Perhaps there may be an indication of the SA line-up for the test. Bedingham at first slip, Markram at second, Mulder third, Stubbs fourth and Jansen fifth/gully. Can we draw any conclusions? Who knows?

The action shifts to the nets, where the coaching staff are keeping a close eye. Bowling coach Piet Botha passes us with two boxes of Dukes balls in his hands. The swing they appear to be known for is evident as the bowlers and batters go through their paces. Graeme Smith makes an appearance, chats to Shukri Conrad and some of the batters. There is a sense of history with having Graeme here, he holds the record for the highest test score at Lord’s by a visiting batter. 

History is not lost on any that play here. We have the opportunity to speak to Aiden Markram after the net practice. He shares what the history means to him: “(I have) incredible memories. To play in a test match here is really special, and then obviously for it to be a final is probably the cherry on top. (The) history, (there’s) lots about it. Walking into the changeroom, walking down to the field through the member’s room, many of the greats of the game have played here, and for us to have that opportunity to play on the same field, and to share that changeroom that they once sat in, is a cool thought.” 

A cool thought indeed. 

Only 3 more sleeps…