It happened in a way that felt organic, even though you knew that it was coming. Applause that started around the players’ steps in the Lord’s pavilion and spread across the ground, ripples reaching the edge of the pond. Once there it turned back inwards, building in volume, sound becoming a more manifest wave, lifting people from their seats row after row. For a few moments, the whole place glowed.
If you had predicted a standing ovation for Nathan Lyon before the second Ashes Test, it could only have been for his imminent 500th Test wicket. Instead he moved to 496 with the stumping of Zak Crawley, then hurt his calf so badly he has been on crutches since.
