ENG vs NZ: Michael Vaughan Slams 'Scandalous' Ticket Prices For England-New Zealand Test At Lord's

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has pummeled Lord’s for the “hefty prices” charged for tickets to the first Test against New Zealand, saying fans were being evaluated out in the midst of a typical cost of living crisis. The first Test of the English summer at the ‘Home of Cricket’ starts on Thursday yet many tickets are still available to anyone for the first day.

Tickets for grown-ups are priced from 50 pounds ($63) to as much as 160 pounds ($201) and Vaughan said it was ‘shocking’ that Lord’s could pull off charging a similar cost as a season ticket for England’s domestic contest, the Hundred.

Lord’s Could Be Under Threat From Other Grounds: Michael Vaughan

“It drives me bonkers when I read about ticket prices and Lord’s has not sold out the first Test of the summer,” Michael Vaughan, who led England in 51 Tests, told the Telegraph news site.

“If Lord’s is going to continue to charge these astronomical prices then they should be under threat from other grounds who will not charge as much.

“You can’t keep saying, ‘we are Lord’s, we need two test matches a year’ and then charge over 150 pounds in the holidays, during the (Queen’s Platinum) Jubilee and during a cost-of-living crisis.”

Michael Vaughan faulted the executives for not being “Sufficiently streetwise” and said the time had come to reward the fans, particularly as they hope to get back to typical life after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are the one country that generally sells out Test cricket,” he added.

“One of the reasons we are successful at selling test cricket is because people want to watch it. “So, don’t out-price them. Just read the room.“

We Have Seen A Reduction In Our Usual Expected Attendance Numbers: MCC

Lord’s owners, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), said they perceived that the most-costly tickets were accessible at an “exceptional cost” however trust it “addresses great worth”.

“With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee double bank holiday weekend also taking place, we have seen a reduction in our usual expected attendance numbers,” the MCC told Reuters.

“However, sales remain strong for the opening two days of the match and across our other international fixtures this year, with our India ODI being sold out.”

England has overseen only one win in 17 Tests and will start the new season under recently selected captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Also Read: ENG vs NZ: Jonny Bairstow Desperate To Join Brendon McCullum’s England Revolution