As India lock horns with England for the third Test at the 'Home of Cricket - Lord's,' one factor looms large for the visitors - the famous Lord's slope.
While Lord's is known for its history and tradition, the famous slope plays a crucial role here, becoming a hidden twelfth man for teams.
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The Lord's slope effect: A nightmare for batters and keepers
The ground has a slope of about 2.5 meters running diagonally from the Nursery End (North) to the Pavilion End (South) at Lord’s. The slope makes the conditions even more challenging for the batters and even the wicket keeper.
The subtle gradient can create big problems for visiting teams, particularly those unfamiliar with its deceptive angles and movement.
At Lord’s, even the flattest wicket isn't really flat—it literally tilts sideways. This slope factor aids the bowlers, especially the pacers, to a great extent by creating late movement either towards or away from the batter, depending on the end and angle.
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For batters, especially the subcontinent players, the Lord's always poses a challenge. It becomes a bit a guesswork and tricks even the best of the batters into misjudging the line and movement of the ball, often leading to edges.
Wicketkeepers, too, face a unique challenge. The ball often dips and swerves unpredictably, creating late movements of the deck, which makes it even more difficult for the keepers to gather even the routine takes.
With English bowlers familiar with exploiting Lord’s, India’s batters and keepers will need both mental and technical adjustments to cope.
India's performances at the Home of Cricket
India historically has struggled to cope with the challenges of the Lord's. In their 19 outings at the venue, India has won just 3 games and drawn 4, with a win percentage of around 15.
However, the side's recent performances at the venue, with two wins out of the last three games, would be a great boost as India tries to take a lead in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar trophy