England have managed only three wins in their last nine outings at Lord's. The hosts are finding it difficult to cope up with the slow wicket at Lord's, which is unlike any other grounds in the country.
The sun shone bright at Lord's during the closing stages of day four of the first Test between England and Pakistan. When the hosts, chasing a 283-run target, came into bat in the fourth innings, the weather was gloomy- an indication of impending catastrophe. Rahat Ali wrecked England's top-order before Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir finished things off. (Also read: 1st Test: Yasir Shah, Misbah-ul-Haq help Pakistan decimate England at Lord's)
The hosts were watching Pakistan celebrate. The crowd at Lord's joined in when Younis Khan led an unique celebration which saw Pakistan players imitating their captain Misbah-ul-Haq with military-style push-ups. While the Pakistan camp was filled with joy and feeling of relief, Alastair Cook led-England sank in disappointment.
Nevertheless, it was a familiar sight for the English fans at Lord's. Three out of nine has been England's scorecard at their Mecca of Cricket over the last four years.
2012: SOUTH AFRICA WRECK ENGLAND
It all started when South Africa edged past the hosts in 2012 at Lord's by 51 runs to complete a 2-0 win in the three-match Test series. The Andrew Strauss-led team succumbed to Vernon Philander's pace on the final day of the Test.
2014: SRI LANKA FIGHT, MANAGE A DRAW
Barring the following wins against New Zealand and Australia in 2013, England have had a nightmarish run at the Lord's. In 2014, the draw at Lord's paved the way for a series defeat against Sri Lanka. Angelo Mathews led Sri Lanka from the front and was backed by veteran Kumar Sangakkara. Despite conceding 575 runs in the first innings, Sri Lanka managed to hold on and manage a draw. Matthews joined the Sri Lanka tail and made sure England were frustrated at the end of the fifth day.
2014: ISHANT STARS AT LORD'S
Then came the defeat against India in the second Test of the five-match series. India pacer Ishant Sharma wrecked England's batting order on the final day with seven wickets and helped his team to a 95-run win over the hosts. The English batsmen, including Joe Root, threw their wickets after Ishant troubled them with short balls. England were done and dusted before they realised what has hit them. Cook and his boys received a lot of flak for not showing fight in the fourth innings, which they had dominated for most part of the Test match.
2015: ASHES HUMILIATION
In 2015, the hosts were hammered at Lord's in the second Test of the Ashes. England once again failed in the fourth innings in chase of a mammoth 509 runs and succumbed to their second largest defeat at the iconic ground.
2016: STRUGGLE AGAINST SUBCONTINENT TEAMS
Earlier this year, England were deprived a chance to complete a whitewash against Sri Lanka. After crushing the weakened Sri Lankan unit in the first two Tests at Leeds and Chester Le Street, England failed to win the Lord's Test, which was marred by rain.
The final nail in the coffin came when Misbah and Shah paired up to decimate the hosts. England, who are used to playing on pacy tracks have been struggling at Lord's wicket which has slowed down over the years. England, who have batted last in most of these Tests, have struggled to come into terms with the pace of the wicket. And the hosts have not managed to get a favourable result even once against the subcontinent teams in the last four years. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who are known for dominating on slow wickets, have made merry at Lord's and have exposed a glaring weakness in the English squad, who are aiming for the top spot in Test rankings. (Also read: 1st Test: Misbah-ul-Haq proud of Pakistan after overcoming 2010 nightmare at Lord's)
England would want to get past the hurdle before 'English collapse at Lord's' becomes a regular phenomenon.