ICC Rates Pitches at New York and Brian Lara Academy as Unsatisfactory

Cricket enthusiasts across the globe enjoyed a thrilling edition of the T20 World Cup 2024. The United States of America and the West Indies arranged the entire tournament. The American pitches grabbed the attention due to their poor nature. The ICC rated the pitches of Nassau County Stadium and Brian Lara Academy as “unsatisfactory” for the men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Issues with New York Pitches:

During the men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the pitches at Nassau County Stadium in New York faced major issues. In two matches, Sri Lanka was dismissed for 77 by South Africa, and Ireland was bowled out for 96 by India after a few days. In the second game, players from both teams were struck by uneven bounce, leading to concerns about player safety and pitch quality. Some of the players faced injuries due to that. 

The venue was constructed in just five months. It was prepared by Damian Hough, the chief curator at Adelaide Oval, under ICC supervision. Despite these efforts, the pitches were criticized for being below standard. The short turnaround between matches, with New York hosting eight games in two weeks, compounded the problem.

In response, remedial work was carried out before the next match between Canada and Ireland. Areas with growing grass shoots under cracks were covered with topsoil and rolled to create a flatter surface, aiming to improve conditions for future games.

The Unsatisfactory Status of Tarouba Pitch:

The pitch at Brian Lara Academy faced severe criticism during the T20 World Cup 2024. In the semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, Afghanistan was all out for just 56 runs. The pitch’s unpredictable bounce and inconsistent pace led to negative comments from Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, who described it as unsuitable for a crucial match.

Throughout the tournament, the Academy’s pitches consistently produced low scores, with several teams being bowled out for under 100 runs. Due to these issues, the ICC ultimately rated the pitch as unsatisfactory.

ICC Other Pitch Ratings

The ICC rates pitches and outfields on a scale from very good to unfit. For the T20 World Cup 2024, many venues received positive ratings. Providence, where the India vs England semi-final was held, was rated “satisfactory,” while Kensington Oval, hosting the final between India and South Africa, earned a “very good” rating.

The ICC was mostly satisfied with the outfields. New York and Guyana’s outfields received “satisfactory” ratings, while all other venues were rated “very good.” The scale used by the ICC includes five levels: very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unfit.

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