City Gridlock Turns Cricket Routine on Its Head

London isn’t exactly famous for free-flowing traffic, but even by its standards, what happened ahead of the third ODI between England and the West Indies on June 3, 2025, was off the charts. Picture this: international cricketers, used to luxury coaches and smooth arrivals, suddenly finding themselves stranded in gridlock. In a move rarely—if ever—seen at this level, the England squad figured out that sitting in a stuffed bus was getting them nowhere near The Oval. Their solution? Grab some Lime e-bikes and pedal to the stadium.

This wasn’t part of any fitness regime or quirky sponsorship stunt. Serious road closures around Lambeth Bridge, plus faulty traffic lights in Vauxhall, had turned central London into a maze. The West Indies, still on their team bus north of the Thames, could only watch—literally helpless—as time ticked away. England’s players, led by Harry Brook, made the call to ditch the chaos and cycle. Not every day you see a group of international athletes riding through London in full kit, bags slung over shoulders, dodging cars and commuters alike.

Delays, Missed Warm-Ups, and a Gritty Start

While England’s solution helped them reach The Oval sooner, it didn’t spare the match from delays. The toss, usually set in stone on the schedule, was pushed back by forty minutes. The start of play? Delayed by a full hour. When the West Indies finally made it off their bus, there wasn’t even time for a proper warm-up. Shai Hope, fresh off the traffic ordeal, managed to keep things light by joking that maybe they should’ve just walked from the get-go.

The England and Wales Cricket Board kept everyone up to date, issuing statements about the delay and pinpointing the traffic meltdown as the root cause. For the players, though, especially the West Indies, scrambling late to the ground meant trying to shake off frustration and get into game mode instantly. England, who were already leading the series 2-0 and had their eyes set on a whitewash, managed to arrive with enough time to focus and prepare.

For sports fans, this was a vivid reminder that in a city as busy and unpredictable as London, even the world’s top athletes aren’t immune to everyday hassles. The sight of cricket stars riding e-bikes through the city will live on well after the series ends—and so will the stories in the dressing room. Next time, maybe teams will just pack a pair of sneakers—just in case.