Lord’s pitch: MCC outlines action plan after England vs Pakistan Test to address criticism of playing surface | Cricket News

The MCC has outlined an action plan to address concerns over the pitch at Lord’s, with it having been deemed “unsatisfactory” by the ICC.

Lord’s was handed one demerit point under the ICC’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process after the staging of its 150th Test match between England and New Zealand earlier this summer proved to be the ground’s second-shortest on record at 165 overs and two-and-a-half days’ action.

The playing surface was back under the spotlight this week, with stats showing that there was actually more movement on offer for bowlers during England’s 194-run victory over Pakistan than in the prior Test against New Zealand.

“‘Unsatisfactory’ was how this pitch was rated after the New Zealand Test match. I have to say, after three days of this Test match, it is ‘unsatisfactory’ again,” Sky Sports Cricket‘s Nasser Hussain said ahead of the match’s conclusion on Sunday, day four of the Test.

“For two days, I thought it did less than that New Zealand game. But yesterday, because of the cloud cover, drizzle and lights being on, this pitch misbehaved.

“If you compare the stats from the New Zealand game to this one, the movement during the New Zealand game was around 0.7 degrees. Including yesterday [Saturday], it went up to 0.85 degrees for this Test.

“In the history of having these stats, that’s the most movement we have ever seen in any pitch in the UK.”

How is MCC taking action over Lord’s pitch?

MCC ground staff worked hard in the off-season to try and bring the pitch up to Test standard, relaying the outfield and even blowing 200°C steam on the wicket, in a bid to kill pathogens in the soil.

They had hoped the measures would revitalise the ageing wicket, but the MCC has now released a new action plan in the hope of addressing concerns, which includes the introduction of drop-in pitches.

Former England and Middlesex cricketer Eoin Morgan detailed the plans further, telling Sky Sports Cricket: “It’s something the MCC and Lord’s take very seriously.

“The ground has taken a reputational blow when it comes to Test cricket this year. It is not two isolated events, either. When it comes to red-ball cricket, things become very challenging.

“The MCC has taken on all of the feedback following the New Zealand Test. They have put together an action plan in which there are a number of steps to try and improve things going forward.

“The MCC is committed to investing financially in getting informed analysis to make this better. There’s pitch relaying which will be staged on the TV pitches and permanent drop-in pitches that will be prepared on the Nursery Ground.

“This will give the MCC the ability to identify certain match pitches that can be preserved and used for specific games.

“We had 63 days of cricket here this year. The MCC has engaged with a partner at Wormsley to manage the lead-in to match days.

“We need to get this right because the consequence of how your pitch plays, and how you put on big match days, has resulted in the World Test Championship final being awarded to The Oval.

“That brought with it a little bit of baggage.”

Are Dukes balls denting Lord’s pitch?

Any blame for the extravagant movement on offer at Lord’s during the Pakistan Test match can’t solely be laid at the pitch’s door, however.

Batting was at its toughest on day three – Emilio Gay’s dismissal being a particularly eye-catching one when pinned lbw by an extremely low-bouncing ball from Mohammad Abbas – as the cloud cover overhead on a rain-affected afternoon certainly played its part.

“Why is it moving so much?” Hussain added. “The pitch started soft and the Dukes ball makes indentations and marks on the pitch.

“Add in the slope and the overhead conditions and that makes it an absolute nightmare for the batters.”

Speaking after England’s series-clinching victory, Test captain Joe Root also mentioned the Dukes ball as part of the issue.

“I know The Home of Cricket is desperate to produce the best surface possible and I’m sure they’re doing everything they can to provide that moving forward,” Root said.

“I think the balls have been very different this year. I think there’s a different lacquer on them, I’ve not got evidence on that and probably need to ask Dukes, but I think there’s a lacquer on the seam. They don’t want them to go out of shape.

“I think that they are affecting the wickets; they’re dinting more and, as a batter, when you practise, they’re cracking your bats more frequently.

“They seem a lot firmer and probably if they’re dinting the wickets, then it’s going to seam off the dints as well.”

Watch day one of England’s third Test against Pakistan, from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am on Wednesday September 9 (11am first ball). Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free with NOW.