Subcontinent vs SENA Pitches

A continental split: subcontinent (India, SL, BD, PAK) = low-clay, slow-turning surfaces; SENA (South Africa, England, NZ, Australia) = high-clay, pace-and-bounce.

MCC's Laws (first codified 1744, current 2017 edition) set the 22-yard pitch and playing-area dimensions cricket still uses today.

Selection biases home toward conditions — three spinners at home in Chennai, three quicks at home in Centurion.

Touring teams pick a wrong-format XI; preparation tours to acclimatise to surface behaviour are now standard.