MCC is aware that Warwickshire CCC will host the second LV= Insurance Test Match between England and New Zealand as a Government-led pilot event at Edgbaston, increasing capacity from the original 25% limit.

We are fully supportive of the Government’s measures to get stadiums full again; indeed, we too have been communicating with the ECB and Government with a view to staging a pilot for some time.

However, with decisions only just being made following the first round of the Government’s Events Research Programme, we simply ran out of time with the New Zealand Test match starting next Wednesday (2 June). This timeframe has been compounded by the additional complexities of delivering our new Compton and Edrich Stands this season, the biggest redevelopment in the history of Lord’s.

We are pleased that all MCC Members who applied for tickets at the 25% capacity limit were successful. Members of the general public who originally applied for tickets for under 16s have been given priority to take up the remaining allocation, to enable children on half term to be part of England’s first match on home soil in front of spectators since 2019.

Edgbaston’s announcement is fantastic news for cricket and paves the pathway back to a return to normal operations. We cannot wait for that to be the case at Lord's, for the sake of our staff, Members and supporters.

We wish Warwickshire all the best in hosting this pilot event and hope for an outcome that continues to support the return to full crowds in sports stadia and other large events.