- The International Cricket Council (ICC) has branded the Lord's pitch, used for the recent England versus New Zealand Test match, as 'unsatisfactory'.
- Lord's has received one demerit point, and accumulating six points within five years could lead to a 12-month suspension from hosting international cricket.
- The match saw 40 wickets fall in just 166 overs, with match referee Andy Pycroft noting excessive seam movement and variable, low bounce that heavily favoured the ball over the bat.
- The MCC has acknowledged the need to 'act quickly' to improve its surfaces, while Ben Stokes criticised such pitches as damaging to Test cricket.
- Lord's is scheduled to host two more Test matches this summer, with England women playing India in July and England men hosting Pakistan in August, along with the Women's T20 World Cup final.
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