Lord's Cricket Ground Reconstruction of Pitch Nine, Main Square
October 2026
Fineturf was appointed by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to carry out the full reconstruction of pitch nine on the main square at Lord's Cricket Ground. The work involved removing the existing test wicket profile down to formation and rebuilding it from the base upwards, so that the finished pitch would sit seamlessly alongside the surrounding wickets on the square.
The existing test wicket was excavated to a depth of 305 millimetres. Once the material had been removed, the formation was laser graded to provide an accurate, uniform base for the new construction.
A 100 millimetre layer of Type 1 stone was then placed and compacted across the formation. This was blinded with Ollisett at a thickness of 5 millimetres and compacted again, creating a firm, closed surface on which to build the upper profile.
Finally, Ongar Sand™ was installed to a compacted depth of 200 millimetres. The material was placed in layers, with each layer compacted and keyed into the one below before the next was added, so that the profile would bond as a single, consistent rootzone. The levels were carefully married into the existing surrounding wickets so that pitch nine ties in accurately with the rest of the main square.
The completed reconstruction provides Lord's with a newly built pitch on a sound, precisely levelled base, ready for the next stages of preparation.
