Lord's Pitch 9 Dug Up After Shock ICC Demerit Point

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-15

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has taken drastic action at Lord's, relaying Pitch 9 after the ICC handed the iconic ground its first-ever demerit point. The pitch will be out of action for the next two or three seasons. ### Why the ICC Slammed the Lord's Test Pitch Match referee Andy Pycroft delivered the verdict after England's victory over New Zealand in early June. He pointed to excessive seam movement and unpredictable bounce on a surface that produced 40 wickets in just 166 overs. Bowlers either bowled or trapped LBW 24 of those batters, and several deliveries kept low, including the one that dismissed Jacob Bethell on the second day. Pitch 9 is one of five central strips used for international matches at Lord's. Before this Test, the ground had never received a demerit point. It was a wake-up call. ### MCC's Seven-Point Action Plan and Reconstruction MCC chair Mark Nicholas didn't waste time. He drew up a seven-point action plan immediately after the match. Rob Lynch, the club's director of cricket and operations, along with the ground staff, have since consulted experts and commissioned data analysis as part of a broader review of the square and pitch preparation. Work on rebuilding Pitch 9 started earlier this month. Nicholas emailed members on Wednesday, saying the project would "ensure that the club prepares pitches worthy of the ground's reputation." He also warned members to brace for scheduling headaches in the coming years. According to Cricinfo, Lord's may add a longer lead-in period before major events like Ashes Tests, giving ground staff more time to prepare surfaces. Some smaller recreational fixtures could shift to Sir Paul Getty's Ground at Wormsley, which MCC plans to use as a partner venue after a pilot program this summer. The club hasn't confirmed details yet. ### Hybrid and Drop-In Pitches: MCC's Long-Term Play MCC is betting on both hybrid pitches and permanent drop-in pitches. A third hybrid strip, made of 95% natural turf and 5% synthetic fiber, will be installed in the spring. Nicholas believes efficient use of these surfaces will ease the pressure from losing Pitch 9. But here's the catch: the ICC doesn't currently allow hybrid pitches in Test matches. Limited-overs internationals can use them if both teams and the ICC agree, and they're already common in English domestic cricket. Hybrid surfaces are thought to play more consistently than standard turf and recover faster between matches. The club is also producing its first three drop-in trays. The first will move to the main square in 2028 after a stint on the nursery ground. Unlike the seasonal drop-ins used at multi-purpose grounds in Australia, MCC will keep these in place long-term. > "We're not just fixing a pitch; we're future-proofing Lord's," a club insider reportedly said. "The goal is to never see a demerit point again." ### What's Next for Lord's? Lord's stages two men's Tests a year under an agreement that runs until 2031. Next summer, it will host England vs. Bangladesh from May 28 to June 1 and England vs. Australia from June 30 to July 4. The ICC has chosen The Oval, not Lord's, to host the 2027 World Test Championship final. The other two Tests at Lord's this season—England women vs. India and England men vs. Pakistan—received satisfactory ratings for their pitches. The four limited-overs internationals, which included three women's T20 World Cup matchdays and an England men's ODI against India, earned very good ratings. So while the demerit point stings, it's clear MCC is treating it as a catalyst for change. The relaying of Pitch 9 is just the beginning. With hybrid and drop-in pitches on the horizon, Lord's is quietly reinventing itself for the modern game. For more cricket news and updates, keep an eye on our blog!