T20 World Cup 2024: The USA’s debut in international cricket is proving problematic due to significant criticism of the pitches at the newly built Nassau County Stadium in New York. These pitches, which are being used for their first international matches, have been labeled unpredictable and subpar by various cricketing figures, raising concerns about the venue’s adequacy for hosting major matches.
In their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland on Wednesday, India chased down a modest target of 97 runs, securing an 8-wicket victory by the 13th over. Despite the win, attention was primarily on the hazardous and inconsistent pitch conditions that plagued the match. This was the stadium’s second game as a T20I venue, and it mirrored the first: low-scoring and brutal. Just two days after South Africa bowled Sri Lanka out for 77, India bowled Ireland out for 96. Although a different strip was used for this game, the inconsistent bounce and challenging batting conditions remained, making the pitch potentially dangerous.
Dear @ICC,
Please take a close look at the New York cricket pitch.
---Advertisement---This situation is unfavorable; rather than promoting cricket in the state, it’s causing people to lose interest.#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/1oVMeYrd1O
— Ash (@Ashsay_) June 5, 2024
During Ireland’s innings, deliveries from Indian pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj varied wildly, with some balls bouncing up to head height and others barely reaching wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. This unpredictable behavior made it nearly impossible for the batsmen to settle in and play their natural game. Paul Stirling, for instance, was dismissed by a sharply rising delivery that resulted in a top edge, leading to an easy catch.
Harry Tector was struck on the gloves by an Arshdeep Singh bouncer, causing him to shake off the pain before being dismissed by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery that deflected off his inside edge onto his helmet. The pitch’s variability continued to trouble the batsmen throughout the innings. In the 16th over, an Arshdeep bouncer flew over Benjamin White’s head, resulting in a no-ball for excessive bouncers.
Injury concerns
The dangerous nature of the pitch was further underscored when Indian captain Rohit Sharma had to leave the field after being struck on the upper arm by a delivery from pacer Josh Little, causing concern among fans and team management. Adding to the drama, Rishabh Pant injured his elbow in the 11th over from another delivery by Josh Little. Despite receiving quick treatment, Pant bravely continued his innings and hit a winning six. Detailed updates on the conditions of both players are expected. These incidents have heightened serious concerns about player safety on this pitch.
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It is important to note that the Nassau County pitch is a drop-in surface, with four main pitches and six drop-in surfaces prepared in Florida and transported to New York for the T20 World Cup. Drop-in pitches often require time to settle, a fact highlighted by commentator Ravi Shastri, who mentioned that the curators have assured improvements over time. However, the current condition of the pitch has been described as “tricky” throughout the match.
Ireland’s dismissal for 96 marked the second consecutive sub-100 score at the venue, following Sri Lanka’s 77 all out against South Africa two days earlier. These low scores highlight the challenging batting conditions presented by the pitch. Additionally, the outfield at Nassau County Stadium has faced criticism. Despite efforts to improve it, the grass trim did little to prevent the ball from stopping abruptly, with puffs of sand visible as the ball moved along the surface.
Trying to sell the game in the states is great .. love it .. but for players to have to play on this sub standard surface in New York is unacceptable .. You work so hard to make it to the WC then have to play on this .. #INDvIRE
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 5, 2024
Michael Vaughan and Andy Flower expressed strong disapproval of the pitch conditions at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium during the T20 World Cup match between India and Ireland.
Concerns have risen about player safety, particularly with India and Pakistan, who have some of the fastest bowlers in the world, scheduled to play at Eisenhower Park on Sunday. The unpredictable bounce of the pitch could increase the risk of injury to batsmen. On Wednesday, some deliveries struck batsmen on the arm, gloves, and head, while others bounced twice before reaching the wicketkeeper.
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