In the recent WTC Final, we saw that the pitch was too hard for the batters to play on, as 28 wickets fell in the first two days of the most important test match.
However, no foreign commentator or England/Australia great player has ever commented on anything related to the pitch. The pitch of the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground has become the subject of controversy after a dramatic start to the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia, which began on June 11, 2025.
While the pitch itself has not been officially rated, the sheer number of wickets falling has sparked significant criticism, primarily centered on perceived “double standards” in media coverage compared to pitches in the Indian subcontinent.
The main criticism, however, has been led by prominent Indian commentators and former players, who were quick to point out the difference in narrative when such an event occurs in England versus India. Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has been a vocal critic, highlighting what he calls the “hypocrisy” of Western media.
Chopra argued that if a pitch in India had produced an identical outcome, it would have been labelled as a “doctored pitch” that was “killing Test cricket.” He asserted that the discourse would have revolved around unfair home advantage and a surface unfit for Test cricket.
In contrast, the narrative surrounding the bowler-friendly Lord’s surface has been markedly different, often described as a “sporting pitch” that produced a “fascinating contest” due to the high quality of the bowling on display.
Many fans share this feeling. They question why a pitch that favors seamers for a low-scoring, quick match is often celebrated as a classic Test battle, while a pitch that favors spinners to achieve the same outcome is widely condemned.
Interestingly, the players on the field and some English commentators see things differently. Australian captain Pat Cummins and South African David Bedingham both attributed the many wickets to the outstanding skill of the two world-class bowling teams, rather than to a bad pitch.
Similarly, former England captains Nasser Hussain and Kevin Pietersen acknowledged the high number of wickets. Still, they argued that the pitch was not a “minefield” and that the ball hadn’t misbehaved too much. They highlighted the constant pressure and accuracy of the bowlers.
Currently, the criticism of the recent Lord’s pitch focuses less on its physical characteristics and more on the contentious debate about home advantage and the perceived bias in how different playing surfaces are evaluated worldwide.
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Average Test Pitch Scores by Country (Last Decade)
| Country | Average Runs per Wicket (Pitch Score) | Pitch Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 35.79 | Generally flat and highly favorable for batting; often described as a “batter’s paradise.” |
| Zimbabwe | 33.31 | Typically provides good batting surfaces with consistent pace and bounce. |
| New Zealand | 32.26 | Good for batting with true bounce, but can offer assistance to seamers, especially early on. |
| Australia | 30.05 | Known for hard, bouncy pitches that reward stroke-play but also offer pace for fast bowlers. |
| Bangladesh | 29.70 | Heavily spin-oriented pitches, especially from day two onwards, make it challenging for touring batters. |
| Sri Lanka | 29.06 | Similar to Bangladesh, with pitches that predominantly favor spin bowling. |
| India | 28.08 | Seam and swing-friendly conditions, largely influenced by weather, offer a consistent test for batters. |
| England | 27.07 | Seam and swing-friendly conditions, largely influenced by weather, offering a consistent test for batters. |
| Ireland | 25.88 | Conditions that generally favor bowlers with seam movement, similar to England. |
| South Africa | 24.61 | Hard, fast pitches that offer significant pace and bounce, creating a challenging environment for batters. |
| West Indies | 24.60 | Pitches have varied, but generally offer a tough examination for batters against pace and bounce. |
Australia vs India Fifth Test Match
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for a recent Test match against India sparked considerable debate. For years, the SCG has been renowned for its favorable batting and spin conditions. However, for this match, the pitch had a lot of green grass. This made it very useful for Australia’s fast bowlers. Many saw this as a strategy to help secure an Australian win by limiting India’s strong spinners.
The pitch attracted intense criticism, even from Australian legends like former captain Michael Clarke, who called it the “worst pitch he’d ever seen in Sydney.” This situation highlighted a clear double standard. Pitches in India are often criticized for favoring spinners too much, yet this seam-friendly pitch was designed in Australia.
In the end, Australia’s fast bowlers capitalized on the unusual surface, resulting in an easy win. This reinforced the belief that the pitch was unfairly prepared to achieve a specific result.
