Specifically crafted drop-in pitches for the T20 World Cup are in transit from Florida to New York via semi-trailer trucks. The pitches will be installed at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, ICC mentioned on Tuesday.
In addition to other matches, the venue will host the fiercy India-Pakistan group stage fixture on June 9.
According to a press release by the ICC, ten drop-in pitches have been crafted in Florida since late December by using proprietary techniques that have been utilised over a decade at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions which Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough heads, has been responsible for the development of the pitches.
Continuous maintenance and care
Cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, the pitches have undergone meticulous nurturing in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and US-based sports turf experts LandTek Group. Over the past three months, they’ve received continuous care and maintenance. At Nassau stadium, four pitches will be set up, with an additional six designated for neighboring practice facilities.
The Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions team will stay in New York to provide ongoing assistance to local grounds crews in pitch maintenance throughout the tournament, ensuring the maintenance of world-class pitches.
The drop-in square, similar to those utilized globally, such as at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, was curated in Florida and transported to New York via a convoy consisting of more than 20 semi-trailer trucks.
Last week, the outfield was laid by LandTek, a company with experience working with renowned sports teams such as the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Inter Miami CF, on both stadium and training fields.
Chris Tetley, the ICC Head of Events, emphasized that the installation of these pitches marks one of the last steps in a project unparalleled in international cricket.
With a deliberate and meticulously planned strategy, we’ve enlisted the expertise of Damian Hough to guarantee the finest playing surface for eight World Cup matches in New York,” Tetley added. The tournament, scheduled from June 2-29, will ve played across the USA and the West Indies.
Damian Hough, head curator of Adelaide Oval, expressed his excitement about the arrival of the pitches in New York, stating that Florida provided an ideal environment for their development with favorable weather conditions. He also praised the collaboration with partners like LandTek, highlighting that everything is falling into place as planned.