Thirty-three wickets have fallen across the first two days of the opening Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, triggering renewed criticism of the playing surface from former England captain Nasser Hussain. The wicket has been flagged for uneven bounce and exaggerated movement off the seam, with 16 dismissals recorded on the opening day and a further 17 on the second.
England were dismissed for 140 in their first innings, before New Zealand responded with 113. England then built a total of 226, and reduced the tourists to 36/3 as they chased a target of 254.
Ground staff had tried to freshen up the pitch over the off-season by re-laying the outfield and applying 200°C steam to help remove soil pathogens. However, the revamped preparation appears to have removed some of the natural pace, leaving the surface with an “Inconsistency Rating” of 7.5/10—reported as the highest mark ever recorded for a Test wicket in England.
Hussain described the strip as “substandard” and “not good enough” for Test cricket, while former England captain Michael Vaughan said the MCC is aware that the ground has not met the expected requirements. He added that both teams have produced excellent bowling, but the pitch itself has been well below the standard for long-format cricket.
“Both teams have bowled exceptionally well, but the pitch is below par and has been for quite some time,” Hussain said on Sky Sports, pointing to how the wicket has offered more than it should in terms of seam movement while still failing to provide dependable batting conditions.
Hussain also noted the significance of Lord’s, which is set to play its 150th Test match and will host three Tests during the year. “This is a historic venue hosting its 150th Test match and will stage three Tests this year. Everything around the ground is world-class, but ultimately the most important area is the 22 yards in the middle,” he said.
He further argued that the staff understand the underlying problems and have already tried a range of remedies. “The grounds staff know the issues. They know it lacks pace and that it offers inconsistent bounce and seam movement, particularly in cloudy conditions, they’ve tried everything, covering it with a dome, steaming it, but nothing seems to have changed. Throughout this Test, it has lacked pace, and when it does speed up, it misbehaves,” Hussain added.
The backlash arrives just months after the ICC labelled the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch “unsatisfactory” following a Boxing Day Ashes Test that finished inside two days. With that precedent in mind, further scrutiny could await Lord’s once the current match ends.
Although Hussain acknowledged the quality of fast bowling on show, he maintained the surface has restricted batting success. “There has been absolutely no chance for the batters, Lord’s has so many positives. The attention to detail around the ground is outstanding. But the most crucial part of any cricket venue is the pitch, and right now, it is not good enough,” he said.
Despite the debate over the wicket, England are still considered strong favourites. New Zealand require another 218 runs on the final day, with only seven wickets remaining.
