# Lord's digs up its pitch to fix cricket's biggest problem

> Cricket's most famous ground has taken drastic action after years of poor playing surfaces, digging up one of its central pitches and planning major changes.
- Title: Lord's digs up its pitch to fix cricket's biggest problem
- Summary: Cricket's most famous ground has taken drastic action after years of poor playing surfaces, digging up one of its central pitches and planning major changes…
- Keywords: lord's cricket ground, england cricket, test cricket, pitch preparation, mcc, cricket grounds, sports, Lord's, digs, pitch, fix, cricket's
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cxvgd73rg97qo
- Published: 2026-10-21T11:48:23.997+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lord's cricket ground, england cricket, test cricket, pitch preparation, mcc, cricket grounds, sports
## The sight no one has seen
Diggers have appeared in front of Lord's famous pavilion, with a gaping hole now visible in the middle of the square.After years of complaints about the playing surface, cricket's spiritual home has taken drastic action.
## The pitch that caused it all
Pitch Nine was used for England's Test against New Zealand in June. The surface proved incredibly difficult for batting. Jacob Bethell was bowled by a ball that shot along the ground.
## England captain's verdict
After the match, England captain Ben Stokes said the surface does not benefit Test cricket. The International Cricket Council rated it as unsatisfactory, placing a demerit point on Lord's record.

> the surface does not benefit Test cricket
## A pattern of poor pitches
Pitches used for men's Tests against Ireland in two thousand nineteen, New Zealand in two thousand twenty-one and Australia in two thousand twenty-three were all rated average.
## What the MCC did to Pitch Nine
Over five days, Pitch Nine was dug up and the twenty-two-yard hole filled with a base layer of gravel. The area was rolled and tended to by groundstaff, then fresh soil was added on top.
## The cost of the fix
Pitch Nine will be out of action until two thousand twenty-nine at the earliest, depriving Lord's of one of its main television pitches.
## Lord's plans for the future
Lord's is adding a third hybrid pitch to the square in spring, where synthetic fibres are mixed with grass.
## Key takeaway

Lord's has dug up Pitch Nine after it produced a poor surface for England's Test against New Zealand in June, with the ground now planning hybrid and drop-in pitches to improve future matches.