Pitches: Winning, Entertaining, or both?

Summary

The article explores ongoing debates about pitch preparation in English cricket, highlighting concerns that current pitch conditions may undermine excitement and meaningful competition, especially in the Hundred. While pitches can enhance spectacle and attract new fans, true significance comes when fans develop lasting loyalties and care deeply about match outcomes. The piece argues that diverse pitches, which provide tactical advantages and challenge adaptability, are vital for cricket’s growth, engagement, and competitive spirit.

Pitch Controversies in English Cricket: A Summer of Debate

Introduction

This summer (2025) has seen spirited discussions about the types of pitches used in English cricket. Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, raised concerns that the test match surfaces seemed to favour the Indian team. More recently, Liam Livingstone echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the pitches in the Hundred were not ideal for creating the excitement that the ECB hoped to deliver to new fans. While their arguments are understandable, there is another aspect worth considering.

Pitches and Spectacle

Livingstone rightly observed that some pitches used in the Hundred do not encourage fast bowling or frequent six-hitting—two features central to the competition’s allure. The Hundred was designed to entertain, and for those new to the game, displays of power and athleticism are enticing. Yet, at what point does the Hundred transition from being a mere outing, like a trip to the cinema, into a meaningful contest? For the competition to hold true significance, there must be genuine stakes; players and supporters alike should care about wins and losses. Currently, this connection seems absent, partly because fans feel little affinity for the teams. For instance, I support Manchester Originals, but only in the most superficial sense—there’s no deep-rooted loyalty as there is with Lancashire, a team whose fortunes genuinely matter to me. It’s important to realise that I am not the ECB’s intended audience for the Hundred. My passion lies with the England Test team and Lancashire’s four-day side, nurtured by family traditions—connections the Hundred cannot replicate. Today’s younger sports fans appear to follow individual players rather than teams, but I digress.

The Importance of Winning and Losing

Ultimately, the significance of winning and losing must grow. In India, a vastly different market, both players and supporters are invested in the outcome of every match of the IPL, sometimes more than the entertainment value itself. This brings us back to the role of pitches.

Cricket stands apart in how profoundly its playing surface shapes the game, rivalled perhaps only by golf and tennis. Pitches should offer a tactical edge to the home team; it is up to players to adapt to varying conditions, and those most adept enjoy the longest, most distinguished careers. But do first-time spectators—like Johnny and Katie—care about adaptability? Unlikely. They come for boundaries, dramatic wickets, and athletic fielding. These features may spark a lifelong interest, and as new fans mature, their loyalties to teams may deepen. Over time, caring about who wins and loses becomes natural, just as it does in other sporting rivalries. Financial incentives and club ownership will only intensify this drive. Teams will inevitably want to prepare pitches that suit their strengths, whether flat for batting or conducive to seam or spin bowling. This diversity benefits the game; uniform pitches produce unremarkable cricket.

Striking a Balance

Stokes and Livingstone have highlighted a fundamental truth: cricket, regardless of format, suffers when there is a pronounced imbalance between bat and ball. Spectators, even those attracted to the Hundred, do not want a six every ball, nor do they want games dominated excessively by bowlers. While the pitches could improve, so too could players' adaptability and dominance across different conditions.

Conclusion

A strong product will attract spectators, and as its quality endures, supporters will start to care deeply. That’s when the Hundred will become a true competition. For now, new fans may be drawn by high-scoring spectacles, but lasting engagement will come with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat—this is the essence of sport.

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