MCC warns members over flying Champagne corks

Marylebone Cricket Club officials are urging members to cease popping Champagne corks from the stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground over fears that they pose a hazard to the fielders on the pitch.

Lord’s is the only international cricket venue that allows spectators to bring alcohol into the ground (Photo: Lord’s)

The MCC issued a warning in a newsletter emailed to its 18,000 members after visiting teams at Lord’s complained that their outfielders were being distracted by corks landing around them.

Officials said the cork popping ban was necessary if the club was to continue to allow alcohol to be brought in to the ground. Lord’s is the only international cricket ground into which people are permitted to bring alcohol.

In 2006 the International Cricket Council passed a rule banning alcohol being brought into any international ground; Lord’s – considered by many top be the home of cricket – is the only exception.

The MCC warning, which came just before England took on Pakistan in a one-day match at Lord’s on Saturday 27 August, said: “In recent times the practice of some members and other spectators opening bottles of Champagne in such a way as to allow corks to be projected on to the outfield has been criticised.

“Any items which are aimed at the playing area may cause a potential hazard to fieldsmen, and this point has been made formally to the club.”

“Lord’s is now the only ground into which members and ticket holders are allowed to bring alcohol, and in order for this arrangement to continue it is important that all members, their guests and other spectators refrain from the practice that has been described.”

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Club member Peter Woodman told the Telegraph: “I’ve been a member for 35 years and I’ve seen a few Champagne corks cracked in my time. Usually a big cheer goes up when a cork lands on the outfield, but the chances of them hitting any player are pretty slim.”

Another member commented:  “I did hear there was a lot of it going on at the last test earlier this month, when England beat Pakistan. It used to be the odd one that got a cheer if it landed from the top tier of a stand to the bottom.

“Landing it on the outfield where a player can stand on it is a whole different matter – or maybe the gentlemen on the lower tier have got fed up with it raining cork and ruining their Panamas!”

A spokesman for the MCC said: “We’re the only ground in world cricket that allows members and spectators to bring in their own drink and we very much want to retain that. It’s part of what makes Lord’s Lord’s.

“But the problem of flying corks distracting fielders and posing a potential hazard has been mentioned by visiting teams and so we are politely asking members to desist from popping Champagne bottles in the stands in the direction of the outfield.”

To read db‘s top Champagne cork popping fails, click here.