If you’re watching the third Test between England and India at Lord’s and wondering why everything has turned red — players, fans, and even the stadium — here’s the reason.
It’s ‘Red for Ruth’ Day, an emotional and important tradition in English cricket. This day is held in memory of Ruth Strauss, the late wife of former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss. Ruth passed away from a rare form of lung cancer in 2018, and since then, the Ruth Strauss Foundation has worked to support families where a parent is facing a terminal illness.
Every year, on a selected day during a Test match at Lord’s, the stadium turns red. This includes players wearing red caps and shirts with red lettering, fans dressed in red, and even volunteers selling red hats and giving out “Ruth Roses” in exchange for donations. This year marks the seventh year of the campaign.
It’s Red for Ruth Day at Lord’s ❤️
The Home of Cricket will once again turn red for the Ruth Strauss Foundation’s annual #RedforRuth day 🔴 pic.twitter.com/nTwJSRSPuw
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 11, 2025
The goal of the foundation is to help families cope with the emotional stress of terminal illness and grief. So far, it has helped over 3,500 family members and trained more than 1,000 healthcare professionals.
Read more: Rishabh Pant Injured During India vs England 3rd Test at Lord’s – Will He Be Able to Bat?
Joe Root Hits Another Century
On the cricket side, England batter Joe Root started the day on 99 runs and hit his 37th Test century on the very first ball. With this, he has now scored more centuries than India’s Rahul Dravid and Australia’s Steve Smith, who both have 36.
However, Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah eventually dismissed Root for 104 runs. Root now shares the record with Smith for the most Test hundreds (11) against India. Behind them are legends like Gary Sobers, Viv Richards, and Ricky Ponting with 8 centuries each against India.
At the top of the all-time list, Sachin Tendulkar still leads with 51 Test centuries, followed by Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), and Kumar Sangakkara (38).
Lord’s turned red not just for cricket, but for a powerful cause — to support families dealing with the toughest times in life, all in memory of Ruth Strauss.
