ICC World Cup 2023 Pitch Report: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has encouraged the ICC World Cup 2023 bound pitch curators to prepare batting-conducive pitches across the venues. The announcement was made by ICC’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, who addressed a gathering of pitch curators in Mumbai, recently.
With the instructions being clearly sent by the apex cricket body, the ICC World Cup 2023 is set to witness some of the best batting masterclasses in the upcoming months.
Atkinson asserted to the pitch curators that any kind of external pressure, regarding how the pitch should be prepared or to shave off the grass for specific matches, must not be entertained.
Notably, the run rates in the ICC World Cups over the years have surged to a good extent. The run rate during the 2011 World Cup was 5.03, which increased in the 2015 World Cup to 5.65 and finally the figure reached 5.69 in the 2019 World Cup in England.
Moving with the trend of high-scoring games, the ICC wants the pitches to be more conducive to batting and there should be a free flow of runs, which excites the general public.
The ODI WC 2023 is scheduled to commence on October 5 with a clash between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The tournament will be played over the course of 45 days will see its final set on November 19.
Below is the comprehensive ICC World Cup 2023 Pitch Report.
ICC World Cup 2023 Pitch Report
“We were told to try and provide a 60-40 pitch conducive to batting,” said one curator who attended the meet. With the surfaces being more friendly to the batters, fans would see multiple high-scoring fixtures.
The ICC has restricted the curators against excessive cutting of grass on the outfield to make balls travel lightning quick, which would discourage the fielders from diving and taking their chances.
The minimum boundary size must be 70 yards and the upper limit for the same is set at 80 yards for all the 12 venues shortlisted to host the ICC World Cup 2023 matches.
The host venues, that don’t have sand-based outfields, have been told to make an arrangement to cover the entire ground with covers in case of rain.
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For more details head to ICC’s official website.