Lord's has announced a drastic change to its playing surfaces after the ICC adjudged the pitch which hosted the first Test between England and New Zealand to be "unsatisfactory". It was the first demerit point given to the renowned cricket ground by the ICC's pitch monitoring system in the wake of widespread criticism of its pitch. Summer's first Test drew to a close after only 166 overs, shortly after the end of the fourth day, as rain delayed the finish. The wicket was inconsistent throughout the game, with many deliveries turning low. Of 40 wickets to fall, 24 were either bowled or lbw, suggesting a below-par pitch. Similarly, the Ashes-winning former England captain Ben Stokes criticised the pitch, and MCC chairman Mark Nicholas later deemed it 'substandard'. Lord's Announces Seven-Point Plan Speaking to MCC members, Nicholas claimed that the central issue at the MCC's July committee meeting was the enhancement of the pitches. The club has since launched a seven-point plan to improve the facilities over the next few years. The seven measures include: Independent experts will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the Main Square, including pitch preparation, match presentation and supporting facilities. In the long term, an agronomy advisory group will be established to advise on pitch management. Greater investment in collecting pitch performance data to better manage playing surfaces. Underperforming pitches will be phased out due to a new relaying programme. The permanent drop-in pitches will be grown at the Nursery Ground and later brought to the main square for installation. Allows for an extended fixture schedule, enabling more adequate preparation for the big games, while certain ‘lesser' matches may be played at affiliated grounds. Hybrid pitches-playing on a mix of natural grass with synthetic fibres increasing strength and consistency. Also Read | Joe Root, Liam Dawson Break 20-Year Record During England's Fightback Against India Pitch Relaying Marks Biggest Change In terms of the seven decisions, relay pitches will be regarded as the most significant step. Lord's has currently decided not to replace any pitches, as a new pitch typically takes 2–3 years to recover when fully prepared for international cricket, limiting the number of games that the ground can host. Nicholas said: "In the search for long-term improvement, we will relay key pitches that are under-performing." He added: "A pitch, once re-laid, needs time to settle in, and given that the demand for fixtures at Lord's far outstrips supply, a phased approach will be necessary to minimise the amount of time each pitch is out of action." There are 20 pitches located on Lord's main square, twenty at each one in; however not used for televised matches. Just eight are: one out of those is often used for substantial international matches. In the meantime, reports indicate that the ground may be deprived of the 2027 World Test Championship Final, with The Oval considered as a potential alternative due to the pitch. The decision will be announced at the next ECB board meeting. Should the WTC Final not be held at Lord's, it is likely to host the one-off Test between England and Bangladesh scheduled for May 2027, even as developments on the pitch are underway.