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Cricket matches have been stopped for various strange reasons over the years, from too much sun, swarms of bees to puddles on the outfield.
But it was a new one for most involved in the first day of England Test against India at Lord’s on Thursday: ladybirds stopped play.
In the closing stages of the day, a ‘loveliness’ (which is genuinely the collective noun) of ladybugs descended upon the field at the Pavilion End of the ground. This appeared to distract the England batsmen, Ben Stokes and Joe Root, and caused a temporary halt in play.
A swarm of ladybirds stops play at Lord’s! pic.twitter.com/49lKhYHXwn
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 10, 2025
Umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula Saikat conferred, but did not seem entirely certain of what to do in the situation — there is no specialist provision for an invasion of ladybirds (ladybugs in the U.S.) in the laws of the game — and told the teams to resume playing.
Stokes then pulled away as Indian bowler Akash Deep was at the top of his run up, swatting the insects away with his hand. After that, the final few overs of the day went without incident.
The Athletic can confirm that, as of around 15 minutes after the close of play, the ladybirds had broadly cleared from the field, save for a few left on the boundary markers.
Umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat looks on as the bugs descend (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
It was one of a number of delays to the day, as England closed on 251 for four, with Joe Root not out on 99.
Stokes appeared to suffer an injury which seriously hampered his running between the wickets, but did not leave the field for treatment. If the injury prevents him from bowling later in the game, it will provide England with some significant problems given their attack already has a series of fitness-related question marks hanging over it.
Jofra Archer has returned to the team after four injury-hit years away, Brydon Carse struggled with a foot problem in the last Test at Edgbaston, where the 36-year-old Chris Woakes struggled and looked weary.
Off spinner Shoaib Bashir does not appear to have any fitness problems, but has taken his eight wickets in the series at a hefty average of 59.5.
Earlier, India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field with an injury to a finger, with substitute Dhruv Jurel taking over the gloves.
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(Top photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)