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Lords Relays Demerit-Hit Track As Major Review Starts
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News18•14-10-2026, 23:15
Lords Relays Demerit-Hit Track As Major Review Starts
- •The pitch at Lords Cricket Ground has been dug out and relaid following an unsatisfactory rating by the International Cricket Council after an England versus New Zealand Test.
- •Match referee Andy Pycroft cited excessive seam movement and variable bounce, noting that all 40 wickets fell in just 166 overs.
- •Pitch 9 will remain out of action for the next two to three seasons as part of the most comprehensive review of the square in a generation.
- •MCC chair Mark Nicholas warned members about upcoming scheduling challenges and potential changes to marquee game preparations.
- •Smaller recreational matches may be shifted to Sir Paul Getty’s Ground at Wormsley as part of new partnership plans.
Key Questions Answered
Match referee Andy Pycroft rated the pitch unsatisfactory due to excessive seam movement and variable, low bounce, which caused all 40 wickets to fall in just 166 overs during the Test match between England and New Zealand.
Pitch 9 has been completely dug out and relaid, and the club has initiated the most comprehensive review of its square and pitch preparation in a generation alongside expert data analysis.
Reconstruction work on the demerit-hit strip started earlier in the month, and the pitch is set to remain out of use for the next two to three seasons.
