Lord's rebuilds Pitch Nine with return not expected before 2029

Lord's has rebuilt Pitch Nine, the surface used for England's Test against New Zealand in June, with the strip unavailable until at least 2029. BBC Sport reported on October 21 that the work forms part of the Marylebone Cricket Club's response to concerns about its playing surfaces and will remove one of the ground's main televised-match pitches from use.

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The reconstruction follows an unsatisfactory rating from the International Cricket Council after the New Zealand Test. According to Sky Sports, match referee Andy Pycroft identified excessive seam movement and inconsistent bounce, and the venue received a demerit point. All 40 wickets fell in 166 overs during the match, with 17 wickets falling on the second day.

BBC Sport reported that the excavation took five days. Workers removed the existing strip, laid gravel at the base of the 22-yard opening and added fresh soil, with groundstaff rolling and tending the area. Pitch Nine is one of five central strips used for major fixtures on a square that contains 20 pitches in total.

Sky Sports reported that the MCC informed members of the reconstruction following a review of conditions across the Lord's square. The loss of the strip comes with two men's Tests scheduled at the venue next year: Bangladesh in May and Australia in late June during the Ashes. The World Test Championship final, meanwhile, is scheduled for the Kia Oval.

Hybrid surfaces are another part of the programme. According to the BBC, Lord's already has two pitches combining grass with synthetic fibres and plans to add a third in spring. These surfaces can be restored and reused more quickly than conventional pitches. They are permitted for white-ball internationals and domestic matches, but cannot currently be used for Test cricket.

The MCC is also developing drop-in pitches. Sky Sports reported that the first of three trays was being produced, with a move to the main square planned for 2028. Unlike pitches moved in and out of multi-use stadiums each season, the Lord's installations are intended to remain in place long term. Those plans are separate from Pitch Nine's extended recovery period.