Lord's Cricket Ground to Halt Play for 18 Days Ahead of 2027 Ashes Test to Improve Pitches
The historic venue is undertaking extensive work, including replacing a problematic pitch, to ensure better playing surfaces for major upcoming fixtures.
Lord's Cricket Ground will suspend all play for 18 days in the lead-up to the 2027 Ashes Test, a significant measure aimed at rectifying issues with pitch quality that drew criticism during recent international matches. This period will allow groundstaff ample time to prepare the playing surface, a stark contrast to the limited preparation windows experienced this past summer.
The venue faced scrutiny after the first Test against New Zealand in June, where the pitch exhibited variable bounce and was deemed 'unsatisfactory' by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This resulted in a public apology from Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and an unprecedented demerit point for the ground. A subsequent match against Pakistan in August, following a 10-day preparation period, received a 'satisfactory' rating.
To prevent a recurrence for the high-profile Test against Australia scheduled to begin on June 30, 2027, Lord's officials have granted head groundsman Karl McDermott and his team an extended preparation window. Rob Lynch, MCC's director of cricket and operations, stated this approach provides the "best chance of producing the best pitch."
In a drastic move, Pitch 9, the surface used for the New Zealand Test, has been dug up and will be out of action until 2029. This extensive renovation involved excavating 12 inches of soil, followed by the addition of four inches of stabilizing crushed granite, 20mm of porous material, and nearly eight inches of Ongar loam. This marks the first time in over 25 years that Lord's has undertaken such a significant overhaul of a pitch.
Furthermore, MCC is progressing with plans to install three permanent drop-in pitches over the next few years. The intention is to stage a domestic match on one of these pitches in 2029, with international cricket to follow in the subsequent summer. Each drop-in pitch is expected to have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to manage pitch quality and venue load. With the Wormsley ground now assisting Lord's by hosting some matches, MCC plans to reduce the total number of days of cricket hosted at Lord's in 2027 to between 55 and 56, down from 63 days this year.