MCC dig up ‘unsatisfactory’ Test pitch after ICC demerit point

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) groundstaff have dug up and relaid Pitch 9 at Lord's after it earned the ground its first-ever ICC demerit point. The surface, rated "unsatisfactory" by match referee Andy Pycroft after England's Test win against New Zealand in June, will remain out of action for at least two to three seasons. The June match saw 40 wickets fall in just 166 overs amid excessive seam movement and variable bounce.

MCC chair Mark Nicholas initiated a comprehensive review of the square and pitch preparation following the match. To manage future scheduling challenges, the MCC will install a third hybrid pitch in the spring and produce permanent drop-in trays, with the first moving to the main square in 2028. Next summer, Lord's is scheduled to host men's Tests against Bangladesh and Australia.