Lord’s, Lahore pitches rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by ICC, receive demerit points

The ICC has rated the pitches at Lord’s and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium as “unsatisfactory” following recent international matches. Both venues received one demerit point each, with match referees citing excessive seam movement, low bounce and slow scoring conditions

Hyderabad: The pitches used for the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s in London and for the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have been rated as “unsatisfactory” and the venues have received one demerit point each under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

Match referees Andy Pycroft (Lord’s) and Graeme La Brooy (Gaddafi Stadium) submitted their reports, expressing concerns raised by match officials and captains.

---

Andy Pycroft said about the Lord’s pitch: “There was excessive seam movement throughout the Test and the ball also kept extremely low on several occasions. The bounce was variable throughout, as 16 wickets fell on the first day and 17 on the second. There was simply an imbalance in favour of the ball over the bat caused by the pitch.”

Graeme La Brooy said about the Gaddafi Stadium pitch: “The pitch was slow and low and made scoring runs very difficult. It did not suit a One Day International as batters had to spend more time to settle in. It assisted spin very early in the match and continued in the same manner throughout.”

The reports have been forwarded to the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board, respectively, and they have 14 days to appeal against the sanction.

There are no previous demerit points for either venue.