Only a few miles separate Lord's and Wimbledon. On Sunday they were eons apart

India Today

a day ago

Once, cricket's heart beat in the clap of tailored hands, men in Savile Row suits and Christys' hats applauding "well played, gentlemen" beneath the timeless arches of Lord's and on its sloping lawns. It was a game of soft greens and softer manners, where grace held sway. Today, those gentlemen seem to have wandered a few miles south to Wimbledon, where tennis still dances to a gentler tune.advertisementOn a sunlit Sunday, Lord's and the All England Lawn Tennis Club, though neighbours in London, stood worlds apart-a cultural dance choreographed by time. At Wimbledon, the Gentlemen's Singles Final unfolded like a ballet, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner weaving a duet of skill and respect. At Lord's, the India-England Test match roared like a storm, all grit and fire, as if the old game had turned into a gladiatorial duel.Wimbledon's Gentle DuetAt Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), claiming his first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam. He became the first Italian to win the coveted title.
Despite their intense rivalry, both players exemplified sportsmanship. Alcaraz, gracious in defeat, praised Sinner, stating, "It is always difficult to lose, but first of all I have to congratulate Jannik again. It is a really well-deserved trophy." His infectious smile despite the loss conveyed genuine joy in his rival's triumph.Sinner reciprocated, lauding Alcaraz for his challenge: "Thank you for the player you are. It's so difficult to play against you." He went on to predict Alcaraz will hold many Wimbledon cups in the future, saying "you already have two.""Thank you for the player you are"Jannik Sinner is full of appreciation for Carlos Alcaraz as their incredible rivalry continues #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/oDBZGRtYwI— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2025Their mutual respect was evident even in lighthearted moments, such as when a champagne cork interrupted Sinner's serve, prompting laughter and composure from both players. This conduct reflects tennis's culture, where individual accountability and strict etiquette foster a gentlemanly demeanor, even under the global spotlight of Wimbledon's Centre Court.Lord's Gladiatorial DuelAt Lord's, the air crackled with a different pulse. The India-England Test, spilled into Sunday with the venom of a street brawl.On Saturday, as the day closed, England's Zak Crawley employed time-wasting tactics to ensure only one over was bowled in their second innings, infuriating the Indian team. Crawley repeatedly stepped away from his stance, citing distractions, and called for the physio for a cursory check, delaying play past 6:30 pm to avoid facing a second over. India's players, led by captain Shubman Gill, were incensed, with reports suggesting Gill shouted at Crawley to "grow some balls, mate," escalating the drama.Always annoying when you can't get another over in before close pic.twitter.com/3Goknoe2n5— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2025Indian fans booed, while Jasprit Bumrah sarcastically (and uncharacteristically) applauded Crawley's tactics.The rivalry intensified on Sunday, suggesting the previous evening had left both sides with bruised egos. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett with an impassioned send-off, maintaining the tension from Saturday's altercation. The Indian team accused England of hypocrisy, as Gill had criticised their time-wasting, only for England to protest when India's Akash Deep took time to prepare, prompting Joe Root to rile up the crowd.Siraj takes the wicket, owns the moment! #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/M9LtqaotCr— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 13, 2025The exchanges grew farcical when India sent out the physio to strap Akash Deep's leg after an LBW appeal, further chewing up time. On social media, fans described the drama as "peak theatre," with some comparing Lord's with a battleground.This was a sharp contrast with cricket's historical ethos: a game born on English village greens, codified in the 18th century by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and exported across the Empire as a symbol of fair play and civility.advertisementFrom Gentlemen to GladiatorsCricket's origins trace back to rural England, with records of games played as early as the 16th century. By the 19th century, it had become part of Britain's popular culture. Lord's, established as the "home of cricket" in 1814, was the epicenter of this cultural identity. The term "it's not cricket" entered the lexicon to denounce anything unsporting, reflecting the game's focus on morality and fair play. Matches were social occasions, with spectators in formal attire sipping tea, applauding politely, and valuing grace over aggression.This gentlemanly ideal began to fracture in the 20th century, ironically, because of the British. The 1932-33 Bodyline series, where England's bowlers targeted Australian batsmen with hostile deliveries, marked a turning point, exposing cricket's capacity for ruthlessness beneath its polished veneer. The advent of limited-overs cricket in the 1960s, followed by the Twenty20 (T20) revolution in 2003, transformed cricket into a faster, fiercer spectacle.The Persistence of GraceJust miles away, Wimbledon's All England Lawn Tennis Club remains a bastion of tradition, yet it too has evolved. When John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg battled in the 1980s, tennis was a clash of personalities-McEnroe's fiery outbursts versus Borg's icy composure-played on grass courts that favored serve-and-volley artistry.advertisementTennis has avoided cricket's gladiatorial shift by maintaining its individualist core. While cricket has embraced team-based intensity and T20's populist energy, tennis remains a duel of skill and poise, where emotional outbursts are tempered by the sport's inherent structure.The miles between Lord's and Wimbledon map a deeper divide: cricket, once a gentleman's game, now thrives on the raw pulse of collective passion. Tennis, though modern, clings to an individualist grace, its players gentlemen in a friendly joust.Cricket's fire and tennis's poise reflect humanity's dual nature-our hunger for both battle and beauty. Perhaps, all of us want to be both gentlemen and gladiators. The real test of character lies in balancing both-the ferocity to fight and the wisdom to know when to bow.Sandipan Sharma, our guest author, likes to write on cricket, cinema, music and politics. He believes they are interconnected.- EndsTune InMust Watch