ICC Rates T20 World Cup Pitches: New York and Semi-Final Surfaces Deemed “Unsatisfactory”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its pitch ratings for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, revealing that the surfaces for two matches in New York and the semi-final in Trinidad were deemed “unsatisfactory.”
In New York’s Nassau County Stadium, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 77 against South Africa, while Ireland was dismissed for 96 by India. The uneven bounce caused several players to suffer body blows, including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Harry Tector.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan labeled the New York pitch “shocking,” while Andy Flower described it as “bordering on dangerous.” The ICC acknowledged the substandard conditions and attributed them to the short turnaround time between matches.
Remedial work was carried out, and the surfaces for subsequent fixtures in New York were rated as “satisfactory.” However, the semi-final pitch at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba also received an “unsatisfactory” rating.
Afghanistan was bowled out for a mere 56 on the surface, with some deliveries rolling along the ground and others rearing up from similar spots. Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that it was not a suitable pitch for a semi-final.
Overall, the surfaces at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy were challenging, producing several low scores. Even West Indies, who defended 149 against New Zealand, struggled at one point, tottering at 30 for 5.
The ICC rates pitches on a scale from “very good” to “unfit.” The surface at Providence for the India vs England semi-final was rated “satisfactory,” while the Kensington Oval deck for the final between India and South Africa was rated as “very good.”
The ICC was generally satisfied with the state of the outfields, with only New York and Guyana receiving “satisfactory” ratings.
