The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally delivered its verdict on some of the most talked-about pitches in recent Test cricket, including the India-South Africa Test series and the Boxing Day Test between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
India vs South Africa pitches escape ICC punishment; Kolkata pitch rating revealed
Despite heavy criticism and debate, the turning track at Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the first Test between India and South Africa has received a “satisfactory” rating from ICC match referee and former West Indies captain Richie Richardson, reported TOI.
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That Kolkata Test match ended inside three days last month, with South Africa crushing the Shubman Gill-led Indian cricket team by 30 runs. The Eden Gardens surface produced sharp turns and kept bowlers in the game throughout, yet the ICC was satisfied with the track.
How Kolkata Test Unfolded
The Kolkata Test turned into a wild contest where batting felt almost impossible from the very first day. South Africa were bowled out for 159 and 153 across the two innings, while India managed 189 in the first innings before collapsing for just 93 while chasing 124 on Day Three.
The pitch had uneven bounce and sharp turns, with some balls staying low and others jumping awkwardly. The only fifty of the match came from South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who showed great fight with an unbeaten 55 off 136 balls at the Eden Gardens.
Simon Harmer dominated with eight wickets in the match. Jasprit Bumrah starred with 5/27 on Day 1. Eventually, South Africa won their first Test against India in India since 2010.
ICC Rates Guwahati Pitch ‘Very Good’ as India Suffer Crushing 408-Run Defeat
Interestingly, the pitch for the second and final Test at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati was rated very good by the ICC. South Africa completely dominated the Guwahati Test, as they handed India a humiliating defeat of a massive 408 runs and sealed the Test series 2-0.
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South Africa scored 489 and then 260/5 declared across their two innings, while India could manage only 201 in their first innings and then were bowled out for just 140 while chasing the massive target of 549.
However, the Guwahati surface provided pace, bounce, and eventual turn, striking a balance between bat and ball, but the hosts failed to make the most of the home conditions. With this massive victory, South Africa recorded their first Test series victory in India in 25 years and whitewashed the hosts only for the second time in their history.
MCG Pitch Fails ICC Test and Handed a Demerit Point
On the other hand, Melbourne’s MCG pitch used for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England came under the scanner after the match ended inside just two days.
The match referee Jeff Crowe rated the MCG surface as “unsatisfactory” on Tuesday (December 30). As a result of the poor rating, the MCG has been handed one demerit point by the ICC.
Crowe explained the decision: “The MCG pitch was too much in favor of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day, and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was ‘Unsatisfactory’ as per the guidelines, and the venue gets one demerit point.”
