Lord’s Cricket Ground Main Square Renovations 2025

In October 2025, the world-renowned Lord’s Cricket Ground, home of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), underwent a comprehensive renovation of its Main Square, consisting of 14 first class wickets. This annual programme ensures that Lord’s continues to deliver the highest-quality playing surfaces for both domestic and international fixtures.

The renovation began with the use of a Koro Field TopMaker (1.5m wide) to lightly fraise mow the surface in three directions. This process removed all surface vegetation, thatch, and organic build-up, exposing a clean loam base ready for deep renovation work. The precision and depth control of the Koro allowed for the removal of surface irregularities while preserving the integrity of the underlying soil structure.

Once the surface was stripped, the square was Koro Deep Scarified in three directions to a depth of 5–6mm, effectively removing any remaining organic debris and loosening the top layer of loam. A Trilo S4 vacuum collector followed, ensuring all debris was cleared and the surface left clean and even in preparation for reseeding.

To re-establish a strong and uniform sward, the team used a Gandy Drop Spreader to apply a 100% DLF Ryegrass mix at a rate of 70g/m². High-quality Ongar Loam was then evenly distributed across the square using a John Deere ProGator and Dakota topdresser. The loam was carefully luted and dragmatted in multiple directions to perfect the levels and ensure consistent soil-to-seed contact.

A Headland Greentech 6-5-18 pre-seeder fertiliser was applied to promote vigorous root development and balanced early growth. Final hand finishing refined the surface before the area was covered with germination sheets, helping to retain heat and moisture to optimise early establishment.

In addition to the renovation programme, Fineturf carried out the sterilisation of four key wickets using an innovative, non-chemical approach to eliminate soil-borne pathogens, pests, and harmful microorganisms. This environmentally responsible process supports MCC’s commitment to sustainability while maintaining the pristine playing standards expected at one of the world’s most iconic cricket venues.

The 2025 renovation works ensure that the Lord’s Main Square continues to set the global benchmark for cricket pitch performance — combining tradition, precision, and innovation to deliver a surface worthy of the title: “The Home of Cricket.”