Like atmosphere, or emotions, it is difficult to define these concepts with words alone.

When I walked through the Long Room at Lord's on Tuesday, it was like being bear hugged by an invisible spirit, welcoming me back to the home of cricket.

Lord's is more than a cricket ground, more than a place for which I have very fond memories both on the field and off it.

Words don't seem to fully grasp the uplifting feeling of standing in a cricket aficionado's version of heaven.

The magic of Lord's is invisible in the sense that the accompanying emotions are indefinable.

In the physical sense, the magic manifests itself in the hallowed turf, the portraits, the wonderful cricket paintings, the luxuriously extravagant silver shower heads in the changing room bathrooms.

Then there's the long wooden tables, and heavy, painted wooden doors in the Long Room through to George, one of the suited, affable ground stewards.

Not forgetting the greatest player's dining room in the world, accompanied by the best cooks in Linda and Catherine, who prepare daily feasts fit only for kings.

The statement has often been directed my way about the shame of playing county cricket at Lord's in front of mediocre crowd numbers.

If the truth were known, my greatest memories of Lord's are on these occasions, because during County contests, it feels like you have the whole place to yourself.

You don't have to share the ground and everything about it, with anyone else. There is real magic in this!

Come Thursday, the second Test match kicks off, and it is on occasions like this that Lord's really comes to life.

As you walk through the Long Room and through the cigar smoke and delicious aroma of coffee and bacon sandwiches, the hearts of all 20 players, and two umpires, will find a new level of activity.

The expectation will be immense, and if anyone forgets this, they will soon be reminded by the MCC members, who are there to see a battle for which they can talk about for the remainder of their days.

The portraits of Bradman, Miller, Hutton and Co. will be staring down from the walls, almost daring you to enter the arena and not come back triumphant.