T20 World Cup 2024: ICC rate New York and Tarouba pitches as ‘unsatisfactory’

The T20 World Cup 2024 which was held across the United States and the Caribbean in June had many complaints about several pitches. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its pitch ratings and evaluated those at New York’s Nassau County Stadium and the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba as unsatisfactory.

The ICC’s review focuses on the surfaces used for the first two matches in New York and the semi-final held at the Brian Lara Academy. At Nassau County Stadium, the pitches drew significant criticism early in the tournament. 

In a match on June 3, Sri Lanka struggled against South Africa and were bowled out for just 77. Ireland fared little better two days later, managing only 96 against India.

The uneven bounce of the pitches led to a series of injuries, including a blow to Rohit Sharma’s arm and hits to Rishabh Pant and Ireland’s Harry Tector, prompting former England captain Michael Vaughan to label the pitch as shocking.

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ICC judged pitches on very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unfit

Despite temporary work, including adjustments made by ICC’s specialist Damian Hough, the track improved but was only labelled “satisfactory” for subsequent matches, such as the big India vs Pakistan clash. In this game, India registered a six-run win in a low-scoring affair.

The Brian Lara Academy’s pitch faced even harsher criticism. During the semi-final game between Afghanistan and South Africa, Afghanistan was dismissed for a mere 56. The pitch’s unpredictable bounce and variable pace drew comments from Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott, who criticized the surface as unsuitable for such a crucial match. 

Throughout the competition, the Academy’s pitches saw numerous low scores, including several instances of teams being bowled out for under 100 runs.

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The ICC evaluated pitches on a scale ranging from very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unfit. While many venues, including Providence and Kensington Oval, received favourable ratings, New York and Guyana’s outfields were rated satisfactory.

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