Lord’s, London, England – Day one of the first Test between England and India at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2025 took a bizarre and unexpected turn when play was briefly halted due to a swarm of ladybirds.
The unusual interruption occurred late in the day, as England’s Joe Root, nearing a well-deserved century, and captain Ben Stokes were at the crease. Suddenly, as India’s pace attack, including Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, were preparing for the new ball, a cloud of ladybirds descended upon the pitch and surrounding areas.
Players were visibly perplexed and frustrated. Ben Stokes was seen swatting away the insects, even having one get into his helmet, while Jasprit Bumrah looked distinctly annoyed as the bugs swarmed around him at mid-off. Umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula Saikat convened on the pitch, seemingly at a loss for how to handle the unprecedented “bug attack.” There’s no specific rule in the Laws of Cricket for a ladybird invasion.
“I was in the changing room, I didn’t even know it had happened,” said Pope. “I’ve definitely never seen that, no. That’s a first, the crowd have got that today.”
There were a number of stoppages throughout the day with only 83 overs completed.
After a brief consultation and a few minutes of bewildered swatting by the players, the umpires ultimately decided that play should continue. The interruption, though short-lived, caused a temporary disruption in concentration and led to some light-hearted moments in an otherwise tense Test match. It also contributed to only 83 of the scheduled 90 overs being bowled for the day, leaving Joe Root tantalizingly stranded on 99 not out overnight.
The incident, described by commentators as a “first” for Lord’s, added a memorable anecdote to the history of the “Home of Cricket,” proving that even the most unpredictable elements can sometimes interrupt the grandest stage of the sport.
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