The countdown is on for one of England's longest-standing and most elite rivalries.
A majestic 134-year-old pavilion, with its sandy brown stone exterior decorated in elaborate adornments, stands at one end, facing a modern glass media complex spanning across the field, supported by white pillars and seeming like a massive round eye gazing over the ground.
And nowhere is the collision between the old and new more evident than when Lord's, self-proclaimed home of cricket and one of its most significant stadiums, welcomes the yearly Eton vs. Harrow schoolboys competition.
The battle between these two illustrious and costly private English schools has roots deep into history, with the game's inception in 1805, before Lord's even moved to its current location.
However, this event led to heated debates and became a symbol of British institutions' attempts to harmonize their heritage with the present after it was eliminated from Lord's schedule by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the ground in 2022. This prompted an uproar among its members, resulting in a reconciled agreement in which the MCC will host both the Eton vs. Harrow and Oxford vs. Cambridge competitions for another 5 years, as well as the finals of the UK's school and university cricket championships, followed by a member consultation in 2027. CNN has reached out to Eton and Harrow for their response but received no reply at the time of publishing.
On the other hand, critics argue that the fixture is built on elitism and only fueled the belief that cricket is a sport for the upper classes, a notion further reinforced as the England Women have never played a test match on this hallowed ground.
In contrast, for everyone in attendance, the event is a valuable piece of history, a treasured tradition and yet another victim of "cancel culture."
'Part of the season'
Nearly two centuries ago, Lord Byron participated in the premiere Eton vs. Harrow match and wrote, "We were most of us very drunk and we went together to the Haymarket Theater where we kicked up a ruckus, as you can imagine when so many Harrovians and Etonians meet in one place."
On this day, the cheers and shouts began as soon as the two teams stepped onto the brightly-lit field.
"Let's go, oi, oi, oi!" the Etonians exclaimed, jumping to their feet as the first ball was thrown. They clapped, cheered, and even waved their shoes in the air, just like they always do. In a different area of the stands, the Harrovians stood up in delight at the first boundary, followed by the Etonians singing the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme song upon Jack Sparrow's debut.
"The atmosphere today has been magnificent; everyone has been so friendly. I've never experienced such camaraderie before," Mark McCullen, who attended Eton and had his son currently play there, shared with CNN Sport.
Unlike many other cricket competitions, there's no selection procedure for this fixture. Eton and Harrow get to play at Lord's because they've done so for 219 years, and they've become symbols of England's history while still producing an overwhelming share of the country's political elite. Two out of the last five Prime Ministers attended Eton, while seven of the total attended Harrow.
It costs £49,998 ($62,620) each year to enroll in Eton, and £50,550 ($63,310) annually to attend Harrow. Nonetheless, both schools provide bursaries and scholarships for a handful of students.
Many spectators regard this event as an inherent aspect of their institutions' histories, a convention that has remained from times when such occasions were required for upper-class society debutants, alongside Wimbledon and the Ascot Races. However, times have changed, but the tradition persists, and for its loyal supporters, it's almost sacred, whereas others see it as outdated.
"I find it a bit sad that people at the MCC want to abolish this fixture because it's elitist," Harry Wells, an Etonian from 57 years ago and currently cheering for his friend's son on the Harrow team, shared with CNN.
"I believe our country will sell itself short if it dismantles everything we've cherished throughout the ages."
Once upon a time, this was a significant social gathering... People would wear fancy top hats and tuxedos. Back then, it was considered an important part of the year. Wells mentioned.
These days, things have changed. We're a lot less formal in our society. However, looking around, there are still many people in jackets and suits.
On a sunny May day, almost all the men were dressed in suits. The Eton students walked around in their striped red blazers and hats, while the Harrow students wore navy-blue blazers. The women wore dresses or blouses and carried designer handbags.
"I don't feel like it's exclusive at all," a spectator told CNN, pointing to the £20 ($25) ticket for public access.
"The boys work very hard to get here," she continued. "Why should we get rid of history because it's traditional and backward and such when we need to learn from it? We need to understand its triumphs, too."
'A stale image of snobbery'
The controversy over the Eton vs. Harrow match has been tied to the broader discussions about cricket currently. This game, often associated with the English upper crust, has come under fire for accusations of racism, sexism, and elitism in the nation where it began. It has a vast following worldwide, being more popular than any other international sport except soccer.
Actor, writer, and comedian Stephen Fry views the Eton vs. Harrow match as a symbol of a'stale image of snobbery and elitism' that English cricket can't seem to shake off.
"That's not what cricket is about," Fry, a previous MCC president and long-time cricket enthusiast, told the Times in October 2023. "It's the second most popular sport in the world, and we need to show everyone how great it is and how accessible it can be."
In the end, Harrow prevailed with a 91-run victory, scoring 321-5 before Eton could manage 230 all out. There may not be many more chances for Eton to retaliate.
"Times have changed. The world is so different from that world now," Mark Nicholas, the current MCC president, told the Telegraph in October.
"Common sense will prevail over the next four years within this compromise... I can see it evolving from here naturally."
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Source: edition.cnn.com
