The family of the late Captain Tom Moore who became a global hero for his fundraising efforts during the coronavirus pandemic rang the five minute bell at Lord's prior to the first Test between England and New Zealand on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The World War II veteran died aged 100 on February 2 after raising nearly £33 million ($45 million, 37.4 million euros) for healthcare charities by completing 100 lengths of his garden before his century birthday in April last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In a sign of how far England has recovered during a year that has cost over 127,000 lives in the United Kingdom, 6,500 spectators were on hand to see the family ring the historic bell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is the first time since September 2019 that England have played in front of spectators at home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The crowd are made up largely of Marylebone Cricket Club members, who were given priority for tickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Priority for any tickets left after MCC members -- in their famous bacon and egg coloured ties -- were given their allocation was given to spectators attending with under 16-year-olds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In a further sign of some sense of normality returning to sporting events there were even ticket touts outside the ground.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those queuing in orderly fashion under beaming blue skies were cock a hoop to be returning to watch live cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
William Marks, 30, who works in the shipping industry, said it was the perfect storm - the weather combined with the opposition being "one of the best teams in the world" New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In keeping with the delightful conditions he was wearing long shorts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm so excited. It has been a long time, so I'm delighted to be back watching live sport," he told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a great day and feels like a long time in the making.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Just being part of a crowd and watching live sport, you can't beat it, and seeing the players in the flesh again -- you can't recreate that on TV. It won't be quite like normal but it's better than nothing."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Katie Banks, a 51-year-old solicitor, said she was ecstatic to be out and about after the ennui of being stuck at home through three lockdowns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I feel quite safe enough. I miss having fun and talking to people and having something interesting happening in my life," she told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"To share the experience of sport is really great. This is only the very beginning. People will be happy to be there, there will be the normal crowd noise."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wine merchant Edward Clarke, 56, was dressed more formally than Marks ensuring protection from the sun with a Panama hat, a dark blue blazer but eschewed a tie.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's surreal and relieving," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's good for the cricketers mostly and to have something to play to. I'm double-jabbed (two doses of vaccine) so I suppose I feel quite reassured about the whole thing. I'm of the belief that you can't stay locked up forever. If this doesn't happen, it will be the end of cricket. It's a difficult balance. It will be interesting to see how the size of the crowd can make the noise, the dynamics of it."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2021\/06\/let-the-bells-ring-out-spectators-return-to-english-test-cricket.jpg", "alt_img": "Cricket Image for Let The Bells Ring Out, Spectators Return To English Test Cricket", "alt_title": "Lord's ", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Let The Bells Ring Out, Spectators Return To English Test Cricket On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "The family of the late Captain Tom Moore who became a global hero for his fundraising efforts during the coronavirus pandemic rang the five-minute bell.", "seo_keywords": "Lords Cricket Ground, New Zealand Tour Of England", "tag": "", "tagging": "Lords Cricket Ground,New Zealand Tour Of England,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "let-the-bells-ring-out-spectators-return-to-english-test-cricket", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "1956", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2021-06-02 18:16:22", "updated": "2021-06-02 18:16:56", "img_from": "Image Source: AFP", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "New Zealand, England, Lord's, Historic Venue, ENG v NZ, ", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "21", "jio_date": "2021-06-02 18:16:22", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2021-06-02 18:16:22", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/let-the-bells-ring-out-spectators-return-to-english-test-cricket-77208" }