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Lord’s Cricket Ground has come a long way after earning its first demerit point from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a sub-par Test pitch. The historic ground is operated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which has begun work to rebuild the contentious Pitch 9 after it was criticized during England’s Test against New Zealand in June 2026.
The pitch has now been taken out of action and is expected to remain unavailable for the next two or three seasons. This decision has been taken to improve pitch quality at Lord’s and ensure that the iconic cricket ground continues to maintain its reputation for hosting international matches. Amid this, Kevin Pietersen vs England 2.0! Betting deal raises concerns over ECB mentorship role.
MCC begins reconstruction of Lord’s pitch after ICC punishment
Pitch 9 of the Lord’s Cricket Ground is one of the five central strips used for international matches at the venue. However, the ground came under serious criticism after match referee Andy Pycroft rated it unsatisfactory following England’s stunning win over New Zealand.
The pitch offered excessive seam movement and uneven bounce, making life difficult for the batters. All 40 wickets fell in just 166 overs during the Lord’s Test between England and New Zealand, with 24 dismissals coming through bowled or leg-before-wicket decisions.
Following the incident, MCC chair Mark Nicholas introduced a seven-point action plan to improve pitch preparation. MCC director of cricket and operations Rob Lynch and the ground staff also sought expert advice and commissioned data analysis before starting the reconstruction work earlier this month.
Nicholas has described the exercise as the most detailed review of Lord’s pitch preparation in a generation. The MCC chair has also warned members that the changes could create scheduling difficulties over the next few years. Amid this, Nic Maddinson responds to criticism from Australian legends over Test recall.
MCC plans to move some matches to Wormsley
The rebuilding of Pitch 9 is not the only change planned at Lord’s. The club is also considering a longer preparation period before major matches, including Ashes Tests, to give ground staff more time to prepare high-quality pitches.
As a result, some small matches could move from Lord’s to Sir Paul Getty’s Ground at Wormsley. The MCC wants to develop Wormsley as a partner venue after a successful trial programme this summer, although the final arrangements have not yet been confirmed.
MCC plans to introduce Hybrid and Drop-In pitches
The MCC is also planning to use modern pitch technology to reduce pressure on its ground staff. A third hybrid pitch will be installed next spring. These pitches contain 95% natural turf and 5% synthetic material and are expected to provide more consistent playing conditions while recovering faster after matches.
Hybrid pitches are not currently allowed in Test cricket. However, they can be used in the white-ball international matches if both teams and the ICC agree. They are already widely used in English domestic cricket. The MCC is also preparing its first three drop-in pitch trays.
The first tray is expected to move to the main square in 2028 after spending time developing on the nursery ground. Unlike the seasonal drop-in pitches used at several multi-purpose grounds in Australia, Lord’s plans to keep these pitches in place for the long term.
Lord’s to host England vs Australia Test next summer
However, Lord’s will continue to host the international matches amid the changes. Its current agreement requires the ground to stage two men's Test matches every year until 2031.
Next summer, England will face Bangladesh at Lord’s from May 28 to June 1, followed by a Test against Australia from June 30 to July 4. However, Lord’s will not host the next ICC World Test Championship final, as the ICC has selected The Oval for the title clash next year.
