How Will the ICC Address and Fix New York Pitch Problems?

ICC Addresses Pitch Issues at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has committed to resolving ongoing challenges with the drop-in pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

For the first time since the T20 World Cup began, cricket’s governing body has publicly acknowledged the initial difficulties with the playing surfaces.

Although players and coaches have refrained from openly criticizing the pitches, BBC Sport has learned that India’s team has privately expressed concerns over the unpredictable bounce and inconsistent nature of the strips at Eisenhower Park, citing safety worries for their batters.

“The ICC acknowledges that the pitches used so far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not performed as consistently as expected,” stated the governing body. “The world-class grounds team has been diligently working since the conclusion of yesterday’s game to improve the situation and provide optimal playing surfaces for the remaining matches.”

Growing concerns have emerged regarding the pitch conditions following the first two fixtures at the venue. On Monday, Sri Lanka was bowled out for a record low T20 score of 77 by South Africa, and on Wednesday, India dismissed Ireland for 96.

India is set to face Pakistan on Sunday at Eisenhower Park, in what is anticipated to be one of the tournament’s most exciting matches, with a full house of 32,000 fans expected.

ICC officials have clarified that there are no plans to relocate any New York games to alternative venues in Florida or Texas, both of which feature natural turf pitches.

Pitch Problems Uncovered

The US is hosting 16 of the 55 T20 World Cup matches, co-hosted with the West Indies. The pop-up stadium in New York, costing £24m ($32m), was constructed in just eight months amidst much enthusiasm from the tournament organizers.

Six trays of soil for the 10 Tahoma grass pitches were sourced from Australia, shipped to Florida for cultivation, and then transported by road to New York weeks before the tournament. The soil, rich in clay, is akin to that used in Adelaide pitches. The outfield consists of Kentucky bluegrass, grown in New Jersey, laid over sand.

Discontent arose following the opening match on Monday, where South Africa easily chased their target against Sri Lanka with 22 deliveries to spare. Similarly, India achieved victory over Ireland with 46 balls remaining in another low-scoring match.

The toss has become a critical factor in New York matches, favoring the team bowling first. Batters have struggled with inconsistent bounce, facing balls that either climb sharply or skid low. The exact cause of these issues remains unidentified.

Boundary sizes (75m and 65m on the sides, 71m straight) and a slow outfield have also hampered run-scoring, with the boundary ropes unable to be adjusted due to ICC guidelines. Consequently, the matches have lacked the anticipated excitement.

During India’s eight-wicket win over Ireland, fans were even cheering for Ireland to extend the game, hoping to see more of their team bat in the second innings.

Concerns have also been raised about the practice pitches at the nearby Cantiague Park training facility. Earlier this week, South African batters preferred throw-downs over facing bowlers, citing injury risks.

The ICC’s commitment to addressing these issues is crucial to ensure the remaining matches of the T20 World Cup provide the competitive and entertaining cricket that fans expect.