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What is the Significance of Five-minute Bell at Lord's? How Does it Affect the Game?

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Five minute bell at Lord's
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The Lord's Cricket Ground in London is known as one of the best stadiums in the world. But a small, yet powerful tradition that marks the beginning of every day of a Test match: the five-minute bell, makes it even more special. It's not just a cue. It's a signal rich with meaning, ceremony, and a deep connection to the sport's heritage.

Outside the Long Room in the Lord's pavilion, the bell hangs, which is an area filled with cricketing history. Lord's, which is also known as the Home of Cricket, is easily the most iconic venue of the sport. It has hosted a no. of thrilling matches over the years that is etched in the memories of cricket fans all over the world.

What is the Significance of Five minute Bell at Lord's?

The significance of five minute bell at Lord's is that at exactly five minutes before the scheduled start of play, the bell rings once. With the sound, the epic rivalry between the two teams starts. The players begin to emerge, the crowd settles in, and the day of cricket officially starts.

Interestingly, the tradition isn't centuries old and began in 2007. It gained the attention of people because of the way it was presented before every match. It fits with the theatre of the place, and the idea that each day of the match requires special attention. Cricket at Lord's feels different because of the five-minute bell. In a sport that's constantly evolving, with formats changing, the bell at the Lord's is a reminder that some traditions stay, even after years.

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Who Rings the Bell at Lord's?

One of the most interesting questions that arises in everyone's mind is who gets to ring the bell before every day starts. Well, the answer is pretty simple. The honor is reserved for distinguished guests like the former players, commentators, or notable figures associated with the game. There are certain names like the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Michael Holding, and Clare Connor who have stood beside that bell, marking the moment with dignity.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the Lord's, invites the guests before the start of each day to perform the tradition. The guests feel quite honored to be present at the stadium and ring the bell as it's a prestigious event and an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Well, another important thing about the tradition is that it's gender-neutral. There are many female cricketers who have rung the bell in the past, carrying the memory with them forever.

Mithali Raj Rings Lord's Bell

In the recently concluded 3rd Test match between India and England, former India captain Mithali Raj became the 8th women's cricketer to ring the bell at the Lord's Stadium in London. On day 4 of the Test match, she was invited to ring the bell. Mithali Raj Lords Bell ringing part was a big moment for women's cricket.

Before her, Sachin Tendulkar marked his presence on Day 1, and Cheteshwar Pujara rang the bell on day two. The Indians have left quite an impact on the game and their opponents as well. Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in the game while Pujara has been serving Indian cricket for a long time and is still not retired.

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List of Women Cricketers to Ring the Bell at Lord's

There are seven players who have been a part of the Lord's five-minute bell tradition. While most of them are from England, all-rounder Deepti Sharma and Sana Mir are from India and Pakistan, respectively. Even Mel Jones got a chance to be a part of the tradition back in 2019.

No.NameTeamYear
1Clare ConnorEngland2015
2Charlotte EdwardsEngland2016
3Claire TaylorEngland2017
4Eileen AshEngland2017 (Women’s World Cup Final)
5Mel JonesAustralia2019
6Deepti SharmaIndia2021 (India’s Independence Day)
7Sana MirPakistan2025 (WTC Final, Day 2)

List of Cricket Stadiums with Bells in India

Not many cricket grounds in the world feature a ceremonial bell like the one that's present at the Lord's, London. Since 2007, the five-minute bell has been deeply affecting the audience and the game as well. It's a symbolic moment that tells players, umpires, and fans alike that the day's play is about to begin. The bell has turned into a respected and recognizable tradition in cricket. Apart from the Lord's, there are some other stadiums in India that have tried to follow the tradition by adding their own touch of formality and heritage.

Starting with the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, which introduced its own matchday bell back in 2016, and chose Kapil Dev to ring it on Day 1 of the India-New Zealand Test match. Next was Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, which implemented a similar model in 2018. The idea of cricket deserving a ceremonial start was also implemented by the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, followed by the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium also has a bell-ringing tradition. Especially for most high-profile matches, all the stadiums invite some guests to ring the bell. Players like Jhulan Goswami have gotten a chance to participate in the five-minute bell tradition in India.

No.Stadium NameLocationYear Introduced
1Eden GardensKolkata, India2016
2Wankhede StadiumMumbai, India2018
3MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk)Chennai, India2021
4Greenfield StadiumThiruvananthapuram, India2022
5Arun Jaitley StadiumDelhi, IndiaNot Found

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Lord's Cricket Stadium situated?

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The Lord's Cricket Stadium is situated in London. 

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Edited by- Monojit Das
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