Only one of the five pitches used in India’s home Test season got a ‘very good’ rating as the International Cricket Council announced the pitch ratings for the recent games across the world on Thursday, November 7. The outfield for the Kanpur Test between India and Bangladesh received an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating.
India played as many as five Tests in their home season – two against Bangladesh in Chennai and Kanpur and three against New Zealand — in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai.
The outfield at the Green Park Stadium, which hosted the second Test between India and Bangladesh, has been rated Unsatisfactory by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe. The poor drainage facilities at the government-owned stadium came under the scanner as two full days of play were washed out due to intermittent rain. Despite the weather interruptions, India raced against time to win the Test in less than two days of play.
Interestingly, none of the three pitches used for the Test series against New Zealand got anything beyond a ‘satisfactory’ rating. Former Australia cricketer David Boon was the match referee who rated the pitches used for the series that India shockingly lost 0-3.
The pitch that was used for the series opener in Bengaluru assisted the fast bowlers, especially on the first two days due to moisture on the surface after consistent rain in the lead-up to the Test. India were bundled out for 46, their lowest total in a home Test match, in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test.
India resorted to spin-friendly pitches in the second and third Tests in Mumbai and Pune in a bid to come back in the series. However, their batters failed the trial by spin. The pitches in Pune and Mumbai ere rank-turners that the New Zealand bowlers, especially Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, made full use of.
The ICC rates pitches for international cricket games on a scale of very good to unfit: Very Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Below Average, Poor and Unfit.
Meanwhile, the high-scoring tracks at Gwalior, Delhi and Hyderabad used for Bangladesh T20Is were rated “very good”, as they conformed to the requirements of the shortest format.
PITCH RATINGS FOR INDIA’S HOME TEST SEASON
- India vs Bangladesh, 1st Test in Chennai – Pitch: Very Good, Outfield: Very Good
- India vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test in Kanpur – Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Unsatisfactory
- India vs New Zealand, 1st Test in Bengaluru – Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Very Good
- India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test in Pune – Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Satisfactory
- India vs New Zealand, 3rd test in Mumbai – Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Very Good
