NEW DELHI: In preparation for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Adelaide Oval head groundsman Damien Hough revealed the intricate process of creating the pitch at New York‘s Eisenhower Park.
Hough explained the challenges and steps involved in making the pitch, emphasizing the innovative approach adopted for this significant match in the ICC tournament.
Speaking to Channel 7, Hough highlighted the complexity of the task, stating, “It’s a bit tricky, we basically built six of the 10 trays here in Adelaide. We made them modular. We’re really proud of them. We’ve got a couple out of the back that will probably come out here [on Adelaide Oval] next year.”He confirmed that the pitch in Eisenhower Park is currently in the “grow-in phase,” elaborating on the process.
“We put them in a shipping container and send them really wherever we want around the world. But they’ve gone over to Florida. And I’ve just come back from a month of work over there putting the trays together, putting the soil in, compacting them and putting the grass on. So we’re in the grow-in phase.”

Hough mentioned a company called LandTek in Florida that is assisting with the grow-in phase and outlined the strategic trips planned in the next six months. The ultimate goal is to transport the trays from Florida to New York, where the final preparations will take place.

Admitting that this process involves several firsts for him, Hough emphasized the significant workload ahead, starting around May. He mentioned the transportation of the trays, which is expected to take two days and is a unique aspect of this project.
Highlighting the importance of the match between India and Pakistan, Hough expressed excitement about the game being played at the pop-up stadium in New York, which can accommodate 34,000 spectators.
T20 World Cup fixtures in New York: