Tension Rises as Australia Blocked Lord's Access While India Fitted Train Ahead of WTC Final

The lead-up to the World Test Championship final has hit a controversy as the Australian cricket team was denied access to Lord's Cricket Ground for practice days ahead of their cutthroat game against South Africa. As Australia were looking to make some last-minute adjustments before the final on June 11, the side suffered a surprise blow when they were told Lord's was not available to host them. The move raised eyebrows and alarm particularly after it was exposed that the Indian cricket team had been observed rehearsing at the same ground even though their first Test match in England was months away on June 20. The bizarre occurrence set a flood of controversy and misunderstanding in the world of cricket.

As per various reports such as one by Fox Cricket the Indian team was allowed to practice at Lord's despite their five-match Test series against England being still days away. Interestingly India's first Test of the series is also not to be played at Lord's. That game is the third on the schedule and will not start until July 10. The timing and scheduling caused eyebrows to be raised particularly as Australia was gearing up for a final that would determine their season. That report went on to say that this preferential access accorded to India was at the expense of Australia who were more or less informed that the ground was off-limits. This has been taken by most fans and pundits as a snub to the Australian side and has caused debate over fairness and procedure at such a marquee event.

Though defeated, Australia were eventually able to have some practice time at Lord's on Sunday, providing them with a late but worthwhile chance to get used to the conditions. Their skipper Pat Cummins played down the situation to an extent but also gave his opinion about the special spirit of the ground. He said Lord's was at its best when there was nobody around and no noise. His comments were in a subtle reference to the intense moments which had happened throughout the last Ashes series when crowd response had gone overboard at times. Cummins admitted the aggression they endured then may not happen again this time as it could have taught the fans to be more civil.

Cummins captains a strong bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon supplemented by all-rounder Cameron Green who adds another pace option to the team. These players should play a central role in attempting to overwhelm South Africa in the final. The preparation of the team was indispensable and denied entry into Lord's could have thrown their planning rhythm and mindset off track. Pre-match training exercises often prepare teams mentally and hone their skills based on ground conditions. Being denied that chance even on a temporary basis was regarded as an unwelcome disruption.

The presence of the Indian team at Lord's compounded the controversy. Being at no immediate match at the ground there was a natural question about why they were allowed access and the Australians weren't. Even without an official announcement explaining the rationale behind the move cricket fans across the globe wondered if the decision was a result of scheduling neglect or other managerial choices. Whatever the reason it found no favor with a part of the followers and past players who raised questions over fairness and transparency in the management of the venues during such a big global event.

This is happening at the right moment when both India and Australia are eager to stake their claim on global cricket supremacy. For Australia, the WTC final provides an opportunity to regain control on the international scene and for India, the Test series against England in the near future is important particularly in English conditions where traditionally they have been found wanting. The WTC final itself is likely to be hotly contested with South Africa taking their own strong pace attack and batting resources into the fray. Under such circumstances where each net session matters the Lord's access controversy will be recalled as the top talking point before the final.

It is also worth mentioning here that Lord's enjoys a unique position in cricketing culture commonly known as the home of cricket. Any problem relating to its utilization necessarily draws a lot of interest and scrutiny. The fact that one of the world's leading teams was deprived of the opportunity to practice at such an elite ground just before a big final makes it more of a drama. While Australia did finally get to train at the ground the initial refusal will probably still be a thorn in the side of the team and their fans. The emotional and psychological advantage that is acquired through seamless preparation is one which teams hold close and any interference with that continuity is sure to cause worry.

Ultimately both teams will seek to leave the scandal in the past and concentrate on the match at hand. For Pat Cummins and his squad the last-minute arrival on the ground may prove sufficient for them to reassemble and stage a fine performance. The WTC final is not merely a game it's an icon of greatness in the longest of all games. With both Australia and South Africa set to clash for glory the build-up to the final only served to heighten the tension of what is already a highly expected match. Whether the controversy will have any actual effect on the result remains to be seen but it has definitely put some spice to the pre-match hype.