The highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be played in the United States of America and the West Indies from June 2. The curtain raiser will be played between co-hosts US and Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
The cricket pitches destined for use in the United States have completed an extensive journey traveling over 14,000 miles as they have been transported by ship from Adelaide, Australia, via Florida. Notably, the US is set to host a major cricket tournament for the first time, with venues across New York, Texas, and Florida. Additionally, the preparation entails considerable effort, particularly in the thorough planning and preparation of cricket pitches. The US will host 16 games out of 55 while the remaining 39 are scheduled to take place in the Caribbean nations.
Damian Hough, the pitch curator at Adelaide Oval, has been delegated the responsibility of growing pitches in Australia and overseeing their transportation to the tournament venues in the US. He emphasized their goal of crafting pitches that offer reasonable pace and consistent bounce.
“Our aim is to produce pitches that have pace and consistent bounce, on which the players can play their shots. We want entertaining cricket, but there are challenges,” Hough said on BBC’s Stumped podcast this week.
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The growing of 10 drop-in pitches started in early October 2023, planting them in trays. With the ultimate goal of yielding four match-ready pitches and six practice strips, each pitch was divided into two trays. It has also used a clay-like soil, alongside a specific grass variety tailored for warmer climates and capable of withstanding rolling and heavy usage.
In January this year, the trays were transported from Adelaide to Florida, enduring the warm climate conducive to their growth. Meanwhile, New York faced freezing temperatures and subsequently, the trays were transported by road to their final destination. The process of bedding the pitch at the venues will require approximately 12 hours for Hough and his team to complete.
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“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,” Hough added.
