Lord’s pitch ‘substandard’: Hussain criticises surface after 33 wickets in England-New Zealand Test
Nasser Hussain has labelled the Lord’s pitch as “not good enough” following a high-wicket opening Test, citing an Inconsistency Rating of 7.5/10 despite ground staff’s off-season interventions.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has strongly criticised the pitch at Lord’s, describing it as “substandard” and “not good enough” for Test cricket. The comments follow the first two days of the opening Test between England and New Zealand, where 33 wickets fell due to uneven bounce and excessive seam movement. Hussain, speaking on Sky Sports, argued that while the fast bowling has been exceptional, the surface has offered batters little opportunity to succeed.
The match has seen England bowled out for 140 and 226, while New Zealand scored 113 and are currently 36/3 in their second innings. Hussain noted that the pitch has been “below par” for quite some time, highlighting the contrast between the venue’s world-class facilities and the poor playing surface. He pointed out that Lord’s is hosting its 150th Test match and will stage three Tests this year, yet the 22 yards in the middle have failed to meet expectations.
Ground staff had attempted to rejuvenate the pitch during the off-season by relaying the outfield and using a 200°C steam treatment to eliminate soil pathogens. However, the process appears to have stripped the surface of pace, resulting in an Inconsistency Rating of 7.5/10, which is reportedly the highest recorded for a Test pitch in England. Hussain stated that despite efforts such as covering the pitch with a dome and steaming it, the surface continues to lack pace and misbehaves when it does speed up.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan is reported to have said that the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is aware that the pitch has failed to meet expected standards. Hussain acknowledged that the grounds staff know the issues, particularly regarding inconsistent bounce and seam movement in cloudy conditions, but emphasised that the current state of the wicket is unacceptable for a venue of Lord’s stature.
The criticism comes months after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rated the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch as “unsatisfactory” following a Boxing Day Ashes Test. Similar scrutiny could now await the Lord’s surface once the ongoing Test concludes. Despite the controversy, England remain firm favourites, with New Zealand needing another 218 runs on the final day with only seven wickets in hand.
