Established: 1814
Capacity: 30,000
Floodlights: No
Ends: Pavilion End, Nursery End
Home Team: Middlesex
Head Groundsman: Mick Hunt
Test History: 114 Tests; 42 home wins; 28 away wins; 44 draws; tie
Last 10 Tests: 4 home wins; 2 away wins; 4 draws
Last 10 tosses: 5 batted first (1 win, 3 draw, 1 defeat); 5 bowled first (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats)

Overview:

The home of English cricket - indeed world cricket - it has been suggested that Lord's inspires the opposition more than it does England. In the dark days of the mid/late nineties a case could certainly be made for that theory, but that may have been more down to the standard of cricket played by England than any omens.

Despite an improved recent record, England have not won a Test there since 2005 - and that was against Bangladesh. That, though, is chiefly because the ground has become a batting paradise - despite the infamous slope and Tests starting in May - and the last four games there have ended in draws.

Despite the MCC's reputation for stuffiness, the ground has been extensively redeveloped to keep it at the forefront of cricketing venues, and many of the additions - notably the futuristic Media Centre at the Nursery End - are strikingly modern without diminishing the famous venue's historical power.

Last time out

A nerve-jangling draw against India last year in a game England should probably have won, and would have done had umpire Steve Bucknor upheld a blatant lbw shout against India's last man Sreesanth.

England started brightly, with under-pressure Andrew Strauss making 96 and Michael Vaughan 79. But a trademark collapse saw 218-1 and 252-2 become 298 all out.

More surprisingly, though, the bowlers hit back. Five wickets for James Anderson and four for Ryan Sidebottom secured England an unlikely 97-run first-innings lead. Kevin Pietersen smashed a century to give England a chance of forcing victory on the final day.

But India, nine down and still a hundred-odd short of their target, were spared by bad light as time ran out and went on to win the series 1-0.

They said...

"Floodlights are now a key component for staging one day and Twenty20 matches. This application provides a solution to floodlighting for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in 2009, a major international sporting event, as well as matches over the next five years. As the home of cricket globally, it is crucial that Lord's continues to host these games."
Keith Bradshaw, MCC chief executive, on the plan to erect floodlights.

"It was a real good Test match played on a real good Test-match wicket."
Michael Vaughan pitch assessment of last year's draw against India.

"It is so flat."
Kevin Pietersen's pitch assessment after becoming the fifth England player to score a century in last year's draw against West Indies.

Happy Hunting Ground

England's two most under-pressure batsmen will be delighted the first Test of the summer is at HQ. Andrew Strauss scored a century at Lord's on his Test debut here against the Kiwis in 2004, and added another in his first game as captain against Sri Lanka two years later. For good measure, his first ODI century also came in familiar surroundings for the Middlesex man. Three of his 11 Test tons have come here, among 852 runs at better than 60. Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, has an average of 54 at Lord's with five hundreds. He too is within sight of 1,000 runs in NW8, with 866 from 10 games.

With the pitch good for batting, the bowlers have, for the most part, modest records. But England might want to consider Jimmy Anderson - 14 wickets at 25 and never dismissed with the bat in three Tests here.

Weather Forecast: The weather across most of England has been suspiciously clement over the last two weeks, so it should come as no surprise to see dirty great black rainclouds hovering menacingly over London on Thursday's forecast, and staying there until Sunday. Marvellous.

Conclusion

Even before the weather forecast, this one always looked New Zealand's best chance of avoiding defeat in this series. The last four Tests here have been drawn and, that India game excepted, a result hasn't looked too likely to come either.

The toss seems to make little difference either - testament to the reliability and hardiness of the Lord's Test strip - with an even split between batting and bowling in the last 10 games producing an even win-loss account. If New Zealand's batsmen apply themselves between the inevitable showers, they should move up to Manchester with honours even.

Dave Tickner