Photo feature

The best seats in the house

You might want to sit down for this

Deepti Unni  |  June 21, 2021

Are they called deck chairs because you're close enough to get decked by a passing ball?

Are they called deck chairs because you're close enough to get decked by a passing ball? Richard Sellers / © Getty Images

Given the languorous pace of long-form cricket, fans have perfected the art of lounging. In the UK, easy chairs come out with the sun at County Championship matches, sometimes dangerously close to the boundary.

Below, an abandoned stagecoach at Lord's provides the perfect seating at this Harrow vs Eton match in 1976.

Drive-in movies are passe, drive-in matches are where it's at

Drive-in movies are passe, drive-in matches are where it's at Wesley/Keystone/Hulton Archive / © Getty Images

A 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar heard florals were in vogue the season he became Yorkshire's first overseas signing back in 1992.

Sachin Tendulkar enjoys the thrill of the chaise

Sachin Tendulkar enjoys the thrill of the chaise © Getty Images

Players themselves don't do a lot of sitting around, but when they do - like at a photo call - they have to carry their own chairs out. The ignominy!

The England team test their bench strength

The England team test their bench strength © Getty Images

During the 1996 World Cup, India famously forfeited the semi-final against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens after fans rioted in anger at India losing seven wickets for 22 runs. The seating took the brunt of their anger, with multiple fires set in the stands.

A lone fan contemplates his life choices as the match goes up in flames around him

A lone fan contemplates his life choices as the match goes up in flames around him © Associated Press

It's probably fortunate that the Eden Gardens seats weren't like the kindling at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai.

Nothing says colonial-era charm like fire-hazard seating at the Brabourne in Mumbai

Nothing says colonial-era charm like fire-hazard seating at the Brabourne in Mumbai Vikas Khot/Hindustan Times / © Getty Images

At the Traeger Oval in Alice Springs, you can't sit with us if you're drinking.

BYOC, not BYOB

BYOC, not BYOB © Getty Images

Women workers do the heavy lifting after an India training session in Ranchi in 2019.

Take a seat, or three

Take a seat, or three © Getty Images

When the IPL packed up early this year, it took with it hopes, dreams… and stadium seating.

A cycle rickshaw carts chairs out of the Arun Jaitley ground in New Delhi after the IPL was abruptly suspended

A cycle rickshaw carts chairs out of the Arun Jaitley ground in New Delhi after the IPL was abruptly suspended Ishant Chauhan / © Associated Press

Deepti Unni is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

 

RELATED ARTICLES