Hi Steve, You're right about why the game starts Wednesday. Funnily enough, there are still tickets available for every day of this one. Perhaps the fact that they're �55 each might have something to do with it. And that the Ashes Test later is �100.
I go regularly to Lord's tests, and the final day has never been free to my recollection. MCC have never given anything away in their 200 year plus existence. Always had to pay something like �10
You're all wrong, Thursday is an important day in the islamic calender so the Test Match has been brought forward by a day, so as not to upset the the muslims. Their religion states that willow and leather and the phrase "Howzat" cannot be used by the infidels on this sacred day