England Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 09 July 2008 /

Expect South Africa to be inspired at Lords but forget the myths about England under-performing at the home of cricket - they love playing there too.

One of the oldest and most irritating myths in the game of cricket - and boy, are there many - is that England's cricketers struggle to get motivated at the austere surroundings of Lord's while the visitors lap it up.

The home side resent the place because the old farts make it feel like an away game with their reserved reaction when they walk out on to the hallowed turf. But touring players are inspired by the history, the reverence and the likelihood that they will only play there a handful of times.

It's all nonsense, of course but that won't stop it being trotted out when the first Test of four begins there on Thursday between England and South Africa. England batsmen don't suddenly start edging more balls behind because a codger in the Long Room muttered something under his breath and nor do the opposition suddenly perform out of their skins. To break it down, one team is putting in more effort than the other. No, can't buy that.

Ill-informed pundits have often claimed Lord's is England worst ground for results. It isn't true. Their win/loss ratio of 1.56 is higher than Headingley (1.50), a supposed fortress, and Trent Bridge (1.46). And only the wonderful sides of Australia in 2005 and 2001 have won there as well as South Africa in 2003. And hold on, what's this? The Proteas won on their previous two visits in 1998 and 1994.

That's right. Quite possibly South Africa are the one country capable of re-inflating the tired, old windbags who drone on about their favourite cricket legend.

South Africans really are inspired by Lord's. It all stems back to 1994 when the sides met for the first time in 29 years because of South Africa's ban from international sport for the apartheid era. Headquarters was a fitting venue for the historic occasion.

The dignitaries were out in force. Thabo Mbeki, the newly appointed deputy prime minister of South Africa, was there and Archbishop Desmond Tutu was not allowed in to the pavilion because he forgot his jacket. And by Jove were South Africa pumped.

They won by an astonishing 356 runs. Ever since South Africans have talked about that match as setting a precedent. And they have carried on the tradition. In 1998 they crushed England by ten wickets with Jacques Kallis claiming four second innings wickets and in 2003, Makhaya Ntini ([4.80] for top SA wicket-taker) taking ten wickets in the match, they strolled to a innings and 92-run triumph. Graeme Smith, one of those who had placed Lord's on a pedestal, bludgeoned a memorable double ton.

Expect South Africa, who are [2.92], to be suitably inspired again but just to take the wind out of the sails of the myth-lovers with a large pin, England's current crop love playing here, too. They are [4.7] and should they win the toss and bat first, on previous form that price should come in sharply.

On the last six occasions when they have batted in the first innings of the match, they have passed 500 four times. It is an impressive statistic and one which could easily be repeated when you consider that all of the home side's top six average more at Lord's than their career marks; Strauss 61, Cook 60, Vaughan 57, Pietersen 72, Bell 52 and Collingwood 50. For the record KP is [3.00] to be England's top bat.

And to finish off, why not start a new myth. No-one likes playing at Lord's because the weather is always poor and matches (the last five) end in stalemates. The draw is jolly at [2.2].

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