The Lord’s honours boards in the Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground stand as one of the sport’s most iconic traditions, celebrating cricketers who have achieved extraordinary feats at the “Home of Cricket.” From centuries and five-wicket innings to ten-wicket match hauls, these boards immortalise players who have risen to the occasion in Test matches and, more recently, limited-overs internationals.
Why the Lord's Honours Boards Matter
Prestige: Earning a place on either the batting or bowling board is a remarkable distinction for any cricketer.
History: The boards date back to when Lord’s primarily hosted Test matches; however, their scope expanded in 2019 to include One Day International (ODI) achievements.
Inclusivity: With the addition of ODI performances, women’s achievements are now recognised, reflecting the modern era of the sport.
Locations & Layout
Home Dressing Room: Displays England (or MCC) player achievements, split into batting and bowling honours.
Away Dressing Room: Features boards for visiting teams and includes the same two categories (batting and bowling).
Neutral Test Matches: Starting in 2010, a special “neutral” honours board was introduced for matches not involving England but played at Lord’s.
Refurbishment in 2019
Original boards were replaced, and the updated design now includes men’s and women’s ODI achievements.
Centuries and five-wicket hauls from limited-overs matches are recorded on the walls leading out to the team balconies, ensuring recognition for all top-level performances.
Key Achievements Honoured
Centuries
Test cricket centuries have historically been the main entry point, but ODI tons now appear as well.
Notable mention: Sachin Tendulkar famously never earned a spot, highlighting how hard it is to achieve a century at Lord’s.
Five-Wicket Innings
Bowling performances of five wickets or more in a single innings are recorded.
Legendary bowlers like Ian Botham appear multiple times for their feats with the ball.
Ten-Wicket Matches
Recognition for players who take ten or more wickets across both innings of a Test match.
A bowler typically has at least one five-wicket haul in such a match, hence appearing twice on the older style of board or once (with combined figures) on the newer ones.
The Exceptional Double: Batting & Bowling
Only eleven players have the distinction of appearing on both the batting and bowling boards. This exclusive club includes:
Gubby Allen (England)
Ray Illingworth (England)
Ian Botham (England)
Andrew Flintoff (England)
Stuart Broad (England)
Ben Stokes (England)
Chris Woakes (England)
Gus Atkinson (England)
Keith Miller (Australia)
Vinoo Mankad (India)
Garfield Sobers (West Indies)
Among them, Ian Botham leads the way with ten separate appearances—eight five-wicket hauls, one ten-wicket match, and a century.
Neutral Matches & Unique Records
Neutral Boards: Created in 2010 to record feats in matches at Lord’s where England wasn’t one of the competing teams.
Warren Bardsley & Charles Kellaway: Their Australia vs. South Africa centuries in a 1912 neutral Test were retroactively added to the new batting board.
Shane Watson & Marcus North: Took five-wicket hauls against Pakistan in a neutral Test, earning spots on the bowling board.
Gordon Greenidge’s One-of-a-Kind Feat
He remains the only player to feature on both the home and away dressing room boards—thanks to a century he scored for MCC against the Rest of the World in 1987, although that match isn’t officially classified as a Test.
Recent Changes: Embracing ODIs and Women’s Cricket
2019 Expansion: The scope now includes ODIs, which is how women’s ODIs became part of the honours boards, bringing long-overdue recognition to female cricketers.
ODI Centuries & Five-Wicket Hauls: Achievements dating back to the start of ODIs in 1971 have been retrospectively added, ensuring current and past stars receive their rightful place.
Numbers at a Glance
Test Centuries: As of August 2024, 175 players have scored 256 centuries in Tests at Lord’s.
Test Five-Wicket Innings: 194 five-wicket innings by 135 players, plus 30 ten-wicket match hauls.
Men’s ODIs: 33 centuries and 15 five-wicket hauls have been recorded.
Women’s ODIs: 4 centuries and 3 five-wicket hauls now also appear on the updated boards.
Why These Boards Stand Out
Historical Significance: Lord’s is often referred to as the “Home of Cricket,” and making the honours board cements a player’s name in cricketing folklore.
Symbol of Excellence: From legendary greats like Sir Ian Botham to contemporary stars like Ben Stokes, being featured here highlights career-defining performances.
Inclusivity & Evolution: Recognising women’s cricket and ODI performances reflects the sport’s modern progression and the growing status of limited-overs formats.
Conclusion
The honours boards at Lord’s Cricket Ground capture the essence of cricket’s rich history and evolving nature. Spanning legendary Test achievements, ODI performances, and now women’s milestones, they bring together past, present, and future in a single, celebrated space. Whether you’re a devoted cricket fan or a casual follower, the boards offer a glimpse into the commitment, skill, and passion that define the world’s greatest cricketers—and the timeless prestige of Lord’s.
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