In anticipation of the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly conveyed its instruction to venue curators in India to craft pitches conducive to batting performances. The upcoming ODI World Cup, scheduled to transpire between October 5 and November 19, will span 44 days and encompass 10 venues.
The tournament’s host cities include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. Previous pitch concerns arose as Test matches concluded within a mere three days during the Border Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. Furthermore, criticism emerged over the surface conditions during the T20I clash between India and New Zealand at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, where the visitors struggled to accumulate 99 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. The hosts managed to secure victory with a solitary ball to spare.
The ICC World Cup 2023 will commence with a match between the 2019 tournament finalists, England and New Zealand, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, October 5. The competition will adopt a round-robin format, pitting each of the ten participating teams against one another.
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In preparation for this monumental event, the ICC has provided host associations with specific guidelines pertaining to pitch preparation. Notably, the global governing body has urged India to curate pitches that slightly favor batting, maintaining a balance with a 60-40 preference in favor of batting throughout the multi-nation tournament.
ICC Pitch Consultant Andy Atkinson reportedly advised curators not to yield to external pressure that might compromise the pitch conditions, such as removing grass for particular matches. The aim, as per reports, is to diminish home-ground advantage to the extent possible during the tournament.
Historical data indicates that the average first-innings score during the 2011 World Cup, hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, stood at 249 runs—the lowest among these editions. In contrast, the averages for the first innings were 275 and 276 in the 2015 edition (Australia and New Zealand) and the 2019 edition (England), respectively.
The ICC’s present objective is to facilitate high-scoring encounters during the World Cup. To achieve this, the board has recommended boundary dimensions spanning 70 to 80 yards. Additionally, hosts have been advised to have comprehensive ground covers at the ready to protect against rain, given