There are many things you can’t do in the stands at Lord’s. You can’t wave flags, blow whistles, play with beach balls, you can’t wear fancy dress “and/or oversized hats”. There are even more banned activities in the Pavilion: you can’t take drinks out of the bar; you can’t save more than two seats at a time; you must never speak into your mobile phone, or even allow it to ring.
The above is not a comprehensive list, but it is an indicative one that demonstrates a common theme: decorum. The members of Marylebone Cricket Club – who include me – see their headquarters as a haven of calm, of old-school manners, of awed respect for its storied past. This is part of our unique sporting brand, along with stripy blazers that can trigger seizures, and the right to nap on a bench behind the bowler’s arm.
