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Lancashire Cricket Club defends entrance delays by blaming late arrivals for empty seats at start of England’s Test against India

Cricket
Cricket

When the gates opened at Old Trafford for the fourth Test between England and India, it should’ve been all about the cricket.

Instead, the spotlight shifted to the long queues and thousands of fans still stuck outside as the first ball was bowled.

What should have been a smooth start turned into a social media storm, with fans blaming delays and the club pointing fingers back at late arrivals.


Lancashire Blames the Crowd for Early Match Gaps

With swathes of empty seats still visible well into the first session, Lancashire quickly responded to online backlash by claiming nearly 9,000 people had shown up later than advised.

In a public statement, the club apologized but also emphasized that they’d warned fans to arrive early due to bag searches.

They promised to improve entry by opening more gates and reminded ticket holders to avoid bringing bags unless absolutely necessary.

From now on, gates will open at 9am for the rest of the Test.

Still, that didn’t stop the criticism from pouring in.

Some fans compared the delays unfavorably to other venues, with one posting: “It took me two minutes to get into Lord’s last week – this is shameful.”

Another called out the painfully slow-moving line that snaked through nearby streets despite arriving well before start time.


Ricky Ponting Returns to Familiar Ground — This Time with a Mic

In the commentary box, another big name returned to the scene of one of his most memorable performances.

Ricky Ponting, now part of Sky Sports’ coverage team, famously scored a gutsy century at Old Trafford during the 2005 Ashes.

His knock nearly saved Australia from defeat until the final pair just about clung on for a dramatic draw.

The emotions from that classic series clearly still resonate — and Ponting’s presence has only added to the sense of nostalgia.


BBC Revisits Ashes Glory with Orchestral Drama

Marking 20 years since England’s unforgettable Ashes win in 2005, the BBC has teamed up with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Test Match Special for a unique retelling of the historic summer.

Titled The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score, the hour-long production blends commentary clips, storytelling, and classical music by the likes of Bizet and Prokofiev.

Narrated by actor Charles Dance, it will air on BBC Radio 5 Live and is also available on BBC Sounds.

Producer Tim Peach admitted the challenge was giving a fresh twist to such a well-known story, but the result promises to be an emotional and dramatic journey back to one of cricket’s greatest summers.


Josh Tongue Heads Back to County Duty

While the Test action continued in Manchester, England bowler Josh Tongue was dispatched back to county cricket.

After playing the first two Tests of the series, Tongue didn’t make the cut for the Old Trafford lineup and was sent to bolster Nottinghamshire’s bowling attack in Southampton.

He’s not the only one juggling hectic travel.

Yorkshire’s Will Luxton had his own chaotic week — sent to Beckenham for a county select XI game, only to be recalled to Scarborough the night before a match due to visa issues with Pakistan international Imam-ul-Haq.

Despite arriving in the early hours, Luxton impressed with a gritty 71 later that day.


Old Trafford’s Party Stand Is Huge — Really Huge

If you’re wondering just how big the temporary stand is at Old Trafford, here’s some perspective: the party stand can hold around 8,000 people — that’s enough to fit every male and female Test cricketer in the world twice over.

The 71-row structure has become a staple of big games in Manchester and, judging by the atmosphere, remains a hit with fans even amid entry delays.


A Familiar Face to Ring the Bell

Neil Fairbrother, who now manages stars like Ben Stokes and Joe Root, will have a special honor this week.

The former Lancashire and England cricketer — known for appearing in more Lord’s finals than anyone else for the county — will ring the five-minute bell on the second morning of the Test.

His contribution to Lancashire’s cricketing history makes him a fitting choice to start the day’s play with a nod to the club’s legacy.