Lord’s, long regarded as the home of cricket, has come under scrutiny after a delivery that kept low from New Zealand’s Matt Henry clean bowled England’s Jacob Bethell on day three of the first Test. The ball, which skidded through at ankle height, left Bethell with no chance as his off stump was sent cartwheeling. The dismissal highlighted ongoing concerns about variable bounce on the famous pitch.
Bethell, who had looked composed at the crease, was visibly frustrated as he walked off. “It’s not easy when the ball is keeping low like that,” he said after the session. “You have to adjust, but sometimes there’s not much you can do.” The incident has reignited debate about pitch preparation at Lord’s, where uneven bounce has troubled batters from both sides throughout the match.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan described the surface as “poor for Test cricket” on social media, adding: “You expect more from Lord’s. It’s not dangerous, but it’s not fair on batters when the ball is shooting along the deck.” The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the ground, has yet to comment on the criticism but is expected to review the pitch report after the match.
The variable bounce has also affected New Zealand’s batters, with several edges falling short of slips and others flying to the wicketkeeper. England’s bowling attack, led by Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, has exploited the conditions but acknowledged the challenge. “It’s tricky for both sides,” said Atkinson. “You just try to hit a good length and hope the bounce is consistent enough.”
Lord’s has historically prided itself on offering a fair contest between bat and ball. However, this match has seen scores below 250 in each innings so far, with only a handful of batters reaching fifty. The pitch is likely to be rated ‘below average’ by the ICC match referee, which could result in a demerit point for the venue.
Source: BBC Sport