What are 'drop-in pitches' being used at T20 World Cup? Editorji explains

'Drop-in pitch' - you must have heard the term while watching a cricket match that's taking place in Australia or New Zealand.

The T20 World Cup currently underway Down Under has once again drawn attention to these drop-in pitches.

So, what exactly is a drop-in pitch?

Like, the name would suggest, these pitches are not made at the venue itself but are dropped in.
In fact, these custom-made pitches are prepared elsewhere, before they are put onto cement slabs and transported to their destination. These panels are then dropped a few inches deep into the ground, and the artificial turf is then rolled around it to level the surface.

Why are drop-in pitches used?

Using a drop-in pitch allows the stadium/venue to have a multi-purpose role. While the pitches are dropped in during the cricket season, these venues can be used for other sporting events as well as music concerts during the off-season.

For example - the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval and Eden Park in Auckland host a variety of sports, including football, AFL & rugby apart from cricket. Once the cricket season is over, these drop-in pitches are taken out and away to allow other sporting events. Before the cricket season begins, they are once again put back in place.

Future of drop-in pitches
These drop-in pitches are being used at Australian venues since 1996. Earlier, there were doubts about the quality since these pitches were made in steel casings and didn't have the natural variation that comes with the usual deterioration of the surface. In fact, they were deemed 'too flat' in the past.

But advances, both in terms of understanding the topography and the contents of the soil used, have enhanced the quality of the contest as well. It also allows the curator to modify the pitch as he/she deems fit, which would not have been possible with conventional tracks.

Due to these advancements, countries like Pakistan are now looking at using drop-in pitches at their venues to maximise their revenues through year-round events.

Also read: T20 World Cup: Team India's Players to Watch Out for