For anyone believing Test cricket was dead, they need only to look at the how the thrills and spills of the first Edgbaston match between England and India captured the imagination.

In England, attendance figures for the game’s longest format, and interest from the public, has never been a problem. In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking Test cricket wasn’t facing problems globally when getting caught up in the Test buzz on UK shores.

Yes, the country which invented the game prides itself on the team’s success over five days, but still, it takes dedication from the cricketing public to turn out in their droves every year, and that, they do. A day at the Test, it has to be said, is not a cheap day out, either.

But a match at Lord’s is one of those such social occasions where you do splash out, make a day of it and make sure you get your ticket well in advance. It is certainly comparable to Wimbledon and the Royal Ascot meeting, with picnics and the hum of the crowd.

Aside from England’s Ashes contest every four years with Australia at the Home of Cricket – with the 200-year plus age-old venue in north London’s St John’s Wood boasting history in the bucketload – a five-day clash with India is the next biggest date on the billing.

On Thursday morning, there will be queues of two to three people deep around the ground, with punters a) waiting to get into the ground b) hoping to gain last-minute admission and then c) another queue, made up of Marylebone Cricket Club members, preparing themselves to storm through the iconic W. G. Grace Memorial Gates and secure a seat in the Pavilion.

Heightened security these days means the rush of those people lucky enough to have Lord’s membership and Pavilion access has slowed, even so, a flash of the much-fabled MCC red and gold tie (or egg and bacon colours, whatever your preference) is proof of entry so long as it is in-keeping with the dress code overall.

Picture perfect: The famous Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Those inside the 1889-built structure not only have the perfect view of the action but get to see the fielding side and the two opening batsmen walk through the famous Long Room and then on to the outfield.

The build-up to this is some sight, given an ex-player of legendary status rings the five-minute bell to inform the respective teams to get ready.

Should Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings make that journey, members will crowd the small corridors and stair areas around the dressing rooms, stand and clap the duo while they can be slightly colder to the touring team – but do always acknowledge the game’s greats.

The atmosphere in part is a bit stuffy and is perhaps not for everyone but also stands alone in cricketing circles and from a player’s perspective, particularly for those on the visiting side, it is an occasion you need to lap up, remember and embrace.

Over the course of one’s international career, a Test tour of England occurs once every four years, so in a sense, you never know how many more chances you will get to perform on the grandest stage.

It is the Test match you want to play overseas.

The personal reward is great, too. By scoring a hundred or claiming a five-wicket haul, players etch their name on the famous Lord’s Honours Boards and will also become decorated in the ground’s on-site Museum, which is one of sport’s oldest and houses the iconic 11 cm high Ashes Urn. It’s worth a visit, if you get the chance.

This weight of history and occasion should form part of Virat Kohli‘s team-talk to inspire his men to fight back and level the series.

Four years ago, the Men in Blue triumphed at Lord’s in front of many Indian fans so there should be no shortage of motivation from the tourists to repeat that feat.

Back in 2014, India won the first Test at Lord’s to go 1-0 up in the series.