The third Test of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India is going to be huge. The five-match series is evenly poised at 1-1, and the third match of the series is held at the legendary Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The ground is popularly referred to as the home of cricket and is a player's dream place to play in. But what makes Lord's so special is something known as the slope, a characteristic that enhances the game and makes it more fun and challenging for players. What is the Lord's Slope? The slope at Lord's is a natural fall in the ground that stretches from the north side (Grandstand) to the south side (Tavern Stand). The overall drop is over eight feet (approximately 2.5 meters). The slope has been incorporated into the ground since being constructed at the present location in 1814. The land sloped naturally since it was near a hill and a duck pond at St. John's Wood. Also Read | India at Lord’s: Test Records, Wins, and Top Performances How Does the Slope Influence the Game? We often talk about the Lord's slope, and it's hard to believe how dramatic it is.Have a look at the Pavilion (built on flat foundations) compared to the field of play...#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/7VAoRxNF7n — Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) August 29, 2024 The slope might seem like a trivial matter, but it is a significant factor in games at Lord's. It influences both bowlers and batsmen. From the Nursery End: Right-arm bowlers receive assistance in swinging the ball away from right-handed batter. From the Pavilion End: Right-arm bowlers receive assistance in getting the ball to swing inwards. Left-hand bowlers tend to perform extremely well at Lord's since the slope makes it more difficult for right-handed batsmen to anticipate the movement of the ball. Even on pitches with little assistance for bowlers, the slope provides them with something additional. It maintains balance in the game and allows each bowler an opportunity to attempt something different. In an interaction with ECB, ex-England cricketer Tim Murtagh explained how the slope makes life tough for batters: "100%. You’ve got to be very careful depending on which end you bat whether your head’s falling over down the hill. Sometimes batters find it even more of a struggle than bowlers to adjust and work out their position on the crease. Certainly, the first couple of times, we’ve seen batters fall over a lot from batting at the Pavilion End. It’s just something you have to slightly adjust in either your feet or your centre of gravity or your weight position. It’s tricky for both batters and bowlers when they first come there." Also Read | Stokes, McCullum Discuss Lord’s Pitch Ahead of 3rd Test Why Hasn't the Slope Been Removed? Over the years, there have been plans to level the slope at Lord's, but nothing was seriously undertaken. In 2001, there were plans to install drop-in pitches and modify the drainage system, which would have shifted the slope. But when the ground was refurbished in 2002, the slope was left behind. Approximately 17,000 Tonnes of the top surface were excavated, and a new drainage system was fitted, but the slope remained untouched. Some of the key reasons for retaining the slope include cost and logistics. To repair it would involve excavating much of the ground and relocating the stands, which is a monumental endeavor.