Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe International Cricket Council (ICC) has branded the Lord's pitch, used for the recent England versus New Zealand Test match, as 'unsatisfactory'. Lord's has received one demerit point, and accumulating six points within five years could lead to a 12-month suspension from hosting international cricket. The match saw 40 wickets fall in just 166 overs, with match referee Andy Pycroft noting excessive seam movement and variable, low bounce that heavily favoured the ball over the bat. The MCC has acknowledged the need to 'act quickly' to improve its surfaces, while Ben Stokes criticised such pitches as damaging to Test cricket. Lord's is scheduled to host two more Test matches this summer, with England women playing India in July and England men hosting Pakistan in August, along with the Women's T20 World Cup final. In fullLord’s pitch rated ‘unsatisfactory’ after England’s first Test shootout with New ZealandThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The Lord's 150th Test has sparked controversy over the pitch quality, with former England captains Vaughan and Atherton criticising it. | Cricket

The ground's surface has been heavily criticised for offering too much assistance to bowlers

England captain Ben Stokes said the Lord's pitch was "not ideal" for Test cricket after his side thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs on Sunday.

The MCC admitted frustration over the Lord's pitch, where variable bounce led to 40 wickets falling in just 166 overs during England's Test win against New Zealand.

The MCC accepted that the Lord's pitch was not upto scratch for the series opener between England and New Zealand. | Cricket

England captain Ben Stokes labeled the Lord's pitch not ideal after a 115-run victory over New Zealand, as Gus Atkinson's 5-30 sealed a fourth-day finish.

June 8 : England captain Ben Stokes was critical of the Lord's pitch in the first test against New Zealand, saying such surfaces do not benefit the longest format of the…

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Lord's has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process after England's victory over New Zealand

A surface offering uneven bounce from day one has been censured by the ICC

Both venues now carry one demerit point under the ICC's monitoring process. | Cricket

June 9 : Lord’s has been handed an “unsatisfactory” pitch rating for the first test between England and New Zealand after the hosts sealed a 115-run win inside four days of a…

The iconic Lord's ground faced criticism as the ICC rated its pitch unsatisfactory after England's first Test win against New Zealand, marking its first-ever demerit point.

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

The Lord's pitch for the first Test between New Zealand and England has been rated as "unsatisfactory" by the International Cricket Council (ICC).