MCC forced to issue apology over Lord's pitch after staging third shortest Test match in history - and Ben Stokes admits farcical situation is 'not ideal'

The MCC issued an apology on Sunday over the poor quality of the Lord's pitch after a Test match ended as the third shortest in history. England captain Ben Stokes criticised the conditions, stating the pitch was not helpful for the future of Test cricket. The farcical situation prompted widespread concern about the standard of the playing surface at cricket's most famous ground.