Queen visits Lord’s for start of 2nd Test

Source:AFP-Global Times Published: 2013-7-18 23:43:01

England and Australia's Ashes cricketers enjoyed an audience with Queen Elizabeth II at Lord's cricket ground in London on Thursday before the start of the second Test.

The Commonwealth's monarch, wearing a blue hat, blue dress and white jacket, walked out of the iconic Lord's Pavilion and on to the field, where both teams were lined up to greet her ahead of the first day's play. She was introduced to the Australia team first as captain Michael Clarke led her down the line of players.

And, as the last of the 28,825 sellout crowd took their seats, England captain Alastair Cook and his side took their turn for a handshake and a brief word with the monarch.

This was scheduled to be Queen Elizabeth's penultimate engagement before leaving next week for her traditional summer holiday at her private Balmoral estate in Scotland.

The 87-year-old said Wednesday she hoped her grandson Prince William's heavily pregnant wife Catherine would give birth soon, before she heads off for her break.

Among the England team were the leading performers of the first Test, which the hosts won in dramatic fashion on Sunday, including man-of-the-match pace bowler James Anderson and batsman Ian Bell, who scored a crucial century.

The sovereign was given three cheers by both teams and then applauded from the field as she headed back to the Pavilion, where she was introduced to coaching staff from both sides before taking a seat to watch some of the day's play.

Lord's is regarded as the "home of cricket" and is owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club - the guardians of the laws and spirit of the game. It  will celebrate its bicentenary next year after being established by cricketer and businessman Thomas Lord in 1814.

AFP - Global Times



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