ICC import drop-in pitches from Australia to the USA for fast and bouncy wickets 

It will be the first time in cricket history that drop-in pitches will be traveling this far.

ICC import drop-in pitches from Australia to the USA for fast and bouncy wickets 

Damian Hough at the Adelaide Oval (Image via Imago)

The ICC have appointed Damian Hough, the pitch curator of the Adelaide Oval, to prepare the pitches for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The biggest task Hough will have is to import 6 drop-in pitches across the Pacific ocean to be used in New York and Dallas. 

What are drop-in pitches? They are pitches that are grown and developed outside stadiums to be dropped into the playing surface. It is commonly found in Australia, where most stadiums are for multi-purpose use. 

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The United States of America (USA) will be hosting their first ever major multinational cricket event. The country’s only operating cricket stadiums are located in Dallas, Texas and Lauderhill, Florida. Nassau County Stadium, which is based in New York, is a temporary ground in Eisenhower Park. 

With specialized pitches needed for the tournament, the ICC decided to order these drop-in pitches from Adelaide. The pitches were grown and cultivated in the city and then shipped to Florida.

Damian Hough expects fast and bouncy wickets

Damian Hough has been the ground curator of the Adelaide Oval for over 11 years, even working with Nathan Lyon as a groundman. The curator was appointed by the ICC in October 2023, and he got to work right away.

2024 T20 World Cup
2024 T20 World Cup (Image via Imago)

Hough believes his pitches could offer pace and bounce, but at the same time the opportunity for batters to play their shots. Despite this, he is quite anxious about how his pitches perform. 

I have mixed feelings. I'm really excited, but I'm a bit anxious at the same time - there are still unknowns. This is a long process. What we do know is we've given it our best shot. We've thoroughly thought through every possible outcome and issue along the way and we're hoping that they're going to be some good cricket pitches. 
Damian Hough to BBC

Drop-in pitches have never been made to travel such long distances. Hough has admitted that most of his pitches have traveled around 2 miles. The pitches are currently still in Florida and will soon be transported by trucks in the coming weeks. 

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