After a two-year absence, Test cricket made a triumphant return to Headingley under blazing sunshine, with anticipation high and the ground buzzing with life. Despite the event being a sellout, the start of play was greeted by stands only half-filled, as spectators trickled in slowly. Some fans were still caught in long concourse queues many for beer, others for water, and increasingly, ice cream.
As India’s batters dug in under clear skies, spectators seemed in no rush. The Western Terrace and Howard Stand were especially busy, with one bar attracting a line so long it spilled into a second queue just to reach it. Savvy regulars knew to avoid the crush by heading to the less crowded upstairs counters.
In a humorous contrast to the sweltering weather, the food offerings were anything but refreshing. Options were hot and heavy: burgers, fried chicken, loaded fries, and wood-fired pizzas. The man assigned to the pizza oven, positioned next to a fish and chips truck, endured a punishing shift as the midday heat cooked more than just food peas and patience alike turned to mush. Despite this, fans embraced the choices with as much enthusiasm as Yashasvi Jaiswal did England’s bowlers.
A scarcity of fruit and vegetables on the menu didn’t stop a group in the Western Terrace from adding some colour. They turned up dressed as bananas, strawberries, an orange, and an avocado, injecting flair and humour into the sun-soaked crowd.
Among the Indian supporters fewer than might be expected was a father in a national team shirt accompanied by his son in full cricket whites, who sported an England flag as a cape and wore a homemade sombrero crafted from cardboard. Shade was rare in many parts of the ground, and ingenuity became essential.
The entertainment extended beyond the field. A group of bhangra drummers added rhythm and volume to the afternoon lull, performing an unexpected medley of Peter Andre’s Mysterious Girl and Shaggy’s In the Summertime. They positioned themselves opposite a cricket merchandise stall, ensuring that between the noise and the gear, the area had no shortage of bats or racket.
In the middle of it all, a small, surreal hold-up occurred. India’s Kuldeep Yadav found himself locked out of the players’ area, lacking both a pass and a phone. For several awkward minutes, he stood waiting until security relented eventually, and not without Yorkshire’s trademark deliberation.
As play continued under brilliant skies, Headingley proved it was ready for the occasion, even if everything ran like the queues and the cricket itself on its own unhurried schedule.
