Lord’s has undergone a noticeable transformation this week for the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia. While the iconic pavilion and lush green outfield remain, the ground has been rebranded from top to bottom to align with the International Cricket Council’s image. Every bit of original branding from Middlesex advertisements to sponsors’ logos has been replaced with ICC messaging. Even the big screens now beam out the slogans of the ICC’s commercial partners, with “Thums up Cola! Taste the Thunder!” on repeat.
The Allen Stand features six bold orange sofas, courtesy of Sobha Realty, whose motto “Art of the Detail” seems to mirror the ICC’s approach to this event. There were even whispers about an effort to cover up the members’ traditional egg-and-bacon ties. All this appears to be an effort to impress Jay Shah, the ICC chair.
Shah, who rose rapidly through the ranks from Gujarat Cricket Association secretary at 25 to ICC chair by 36 is a powerful figure in world cricket. His presence at Lord’s has caused a stir, with cricket’s governing bodies keen to ensure everything meets his expectations. Despite skipping the influential World Cricket Connects conference hosted by the MCC, he was front and center to ring the ceremonial bell on day one and was later seen seated in the president’s box.
While the fanfare around Shah is evident, Test cricket itself remains under scrutiny. Despite drawing around 25,000 spectators on the opening day, conversations around the ground reflected deeper concerns whether India, Australia, and England should play each other more often, whether a two-division format is viable, and how smaller nations can afford to stay in the game under the current financial model.
This final is the first without India, and its viewership figures may not match previous editions. Yet on the pitch, the action was compelling. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen bowled fiery spells against Australia’s top order, keeping the crowd engaged throughout. It was cricket of the highest quality no distractions, no phones, just pure attention on the battle in the middle.
Later in the day, Shah was seen mingling with fans, taking selfies and appearing relaxed. For those invested in the future of Test cricket, his enjoyment is likely a welcome sight.
