Nasser Hussain believes the Lord’s wicket is “substandard” and “not good enough” for Test cricket after 33 wickets fell inside two days during England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand.
Ben Stokes’ side left the visitors a target of 218 runs to win at the close of day two, as New Zealand bowler Nathan Smith utilised the uneven bounce to take six wickets for 70 runs.
At one stage during England’s second innings, the hosts lost four wickets in 11 deliveries, with all of Emilio Gay, Harry Brook, Joe Root and Stokes walking back to the pavilion in quick succession.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of day two of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s
During the off-season, grounds staff at Lord’s have been attempting to revitalise the pitch by relaying the outfield and blowing 200°C steam onto the wicket.
The steaming process was utilised to kill off pathogens and revitalise the soil under the square.
However, the wicket has played slow and caused the ball to move sideways, with England’s bowlers utilising the bounce to leave New Zealand scrambling at stumps on day two, with 36 runs for a loss of three wickets.
CricViz reports the Inconsistency Rating for the Lord’s Test so far sits at 7.5 out of 10, the highest for a Test match in England.
“High-quality bowling is on display from both teams, but it’s on a substandard pitch – and it has been for quite some time,” Hussain told Sky Sports.
“This famous old ground is hosting its 150th Test match and is scheduled to stage three Tests this year.
“It’s a venue that blends the old and the new so well, but ultimately it’s the 22 yards in the middle that matter.
“Everything has been tried to improve it as the grounds staff know it lacks pace, offers variable bounce and seams when there is cloud cover. They put a dome over it, they have tried steaming it, but nothing has made a difference.
“Throughout this Test match, it has lacked pace, and when it does quicken up, it begins to misbehave upwards.”
In December, the MCG was given a demerit point and was ruled ‘unsatisfactory’ by the ICC. It came as England’s Boxing Day Test against Australia ended inside two days, with 36 wickets falling across 142 overs. The ICC will deliver their verdict on the Lord’s pitch in the week following the conclusion of the first Test.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
New Zealand plunder three wickets from just five balls against England at Lord’s, including captain Ben Stokes
Hussain added that the quality of the pitch, combined with the excellent fast bowling on display, made “batting impossible”.
“[There has been] absolutely no chance for the batters,” he said. “Lord’s has got so much going for it. The attention to detail at this ground in the periphery is absolutely spot on.
“But the bit in the middle is the most important bit, and it’s not good enough.”
Doull: ‘The ECB could take games away from Lord’s’
Bowlers from both sides took advantage of the cloudy conditions and uneven bounce at Lord’s
Former New Zealand bowler and Sky Sports cricket analyst Simon Doull echoed Hussain’s comments, calling on the ECB and MCC to replace the ageing wicket.
He believes the ECB could even take matches away from Lord’s if there is no improvement in the pitch.
“The time comes when you ask: ‘What are the ECB going to do about the Lord’s pitch?’ Doull said to Sky Sports Cricket.
Ben Stokes reacts after bowling on day two of the first Test
“I think the ECB have to combine with the MCC and say: ‘I’m sorry, but we’re going to take games away from you, because the pitch is not up to standard’.
“Until the ECB decides that they will take games away from Lord’s, then it doesn’t force the MCC’s hand to spend money and get the pitch redone.”
Doull expressed empathy for the grounds staff, who have been assessing all options on how to ensure the pitch remains adequate for both batters and bowlers.
“The outfield looks magnificent and I feel for the grounds staff. They’re working with a tired old pitch block, which is not conducive to what they want to do.
“They are very good at what they do. They know what they have to do. But they’re operating with a very poor surface and everything underneath it is just gone.
“It’s dead, it’s old and it needs replacing.”
Broad: ‘The pitch provided entertainment’
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nathan Smith takes six wickets against England in a stellar performance on day two of the first Test at Lord’s
While Stuart Broad agreed modern pitches needed to be better for batters, the former England fast bowler defended the Lord’s pitch, explaining it has dished up an entertaining match so far.
“I think on Test match surfaces and the quality of bowling you get in Test match cricket, you don’t need as much sideways movement as this has offered, because bowlers can extract movement,” Broad told Sky Sports Cricket.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the pitch. I was getting on the tube last night with people who had watched the cricket. All the conversation was about how much they had enjoyed the day. The roars of the wickets, the crowds and the unpredictability.
“Whatever is said about the surface, ultimately, if the day is entertaining, that’s a positive. Again today, it’s been an enthralling day!”
He added: “I’m certainly not saying that these pitches are great for Test match cricket; they need to be better batting surfaces than these.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England seamer Gus Atkinson takes an early wicket in the final innings at Lord’s before New Zealand manage to get a run on the board
“What we saw in Australia during the Ashes, I thought Sydney was a brilliant and intriguing pitch. I think batters should be able to score hundreds, and bowlers should have to work to get wickets.
“But it hasn’t taken away from the entertainment.”
Watch day three of the first Test between England and New Zealand live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 10.15am on Saturday. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
