‘It’s all there in the Lord’s air’

London: Graham Gooch, a former England captain and one of the great openers of all time, holds the record for the highest individual score at Lord’s — 333 in the 1990 Test against India, incidentally Sachin Tendulkar’s first in this country.

Now 57 and England’s batting coach, Gooch spoke to The Telegraph about Lord’s and, yes, that epic 333.

The following are excerpts

Q What did Lord’s mean to you when you were a young cricketer aspiring to make it big?

A For an Englishman, Lord’s is the greatest ground in the world... It’s where the game has been nurtured, there’s so much history... It’s all there in the Lord’s air... Come to the ground and you can breathe it.

Your first visit/game at Lord’s...

My father brought me for a Gillette Cup final in the early 60s... I was very young then... We sat on the grass, in an area without stands... I first played at Lord’s in 1972, I think, for the Young England Cricketers against the Oxford University.

How much did you score?

(Laughs) Can’t remember, you’re jogging my memory a long way.

What were your first impressions of Lord’s?

Awesome... It felt great to visit the spiritual home of cricket, felt greater when I played at Lord’s for the first time. Its character can’t be beaten, nor its location — in the heart of London, in such a wonderful area.

That 333 against India... Your best moment at Lord’s?

I’d think so... Of course, I’d got a hundred at Lord’s in the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup final, against Surrey, and it was a historic win... That innings meant a lot... But, yes, the 333 remains the highpoint... I got a hundred (123) in the second innings as well and we won that Test. So, it was a personal and collective triumph.

Today, 21 years later, what are your thoughts on that innings?

The years have faded the memories somewhat... It’s rare to get the opportunity to score a triple in a Test, that’s because of the time factor. I batted for over 10 hours (628 minutes, 485 balls, 43x4, 3x6) and to do that at the spiritual home of cricket was, in itself, huge... I know Kiran More dropped me on 30-odd and he wouldn’t like to be reminded about it! But such things happen, you build on good fortune... The benchmark for most batsmen is a hundred at Lord’s... Well, I’ve got a 333... However, keeping the emotions aside, it was only a Test match.

Your worst moment?

Haven’t thought about it... Perhaps, losing the 1979 World Cup final to the West Indies. May not be the worst moment, but surely the most disappointing.

Is there a performance at Lord’s, either from a teammate or from the opposition, which wowed you?

So many, so many... The one which stands out, instantly, is the 138 not out by Viv Richards in the 1979 World Cup final... It was an innings of skill, power, stroke-making of such high quality... He dominated the bowling like nobody else.

Does it take something more to do well at an iconic ground such as Lord’s?

(Pauses) Don’t think so... But, yes, the slope is there at Lord’s and, if it’s overcast, then the ball does swing a lot... It’s best to soak in the atmosphere... Most players, I guess, raise the bar at Lord’s.

Do they get a tad more nervous?

Everyone is different... I wouldn’t be nervous, rather, I’d take in the atmosphere. Believe me, there’s nothing better than the first day of a Test at Lord’s... Over the years, you must have felt the buzz yourself.

The final one... Is there any other ground which comes close to Lord’s?

Newlands, the Adelaide Oval and Eden Gardens... All are different, yet very special venues for cricket.