The International Cricket Council has changed the rating of the pitch used for the third Test between India and Australia from ‘poor’ to ‘below average’ after an appeal by the BCCI, world cricket’s most powerful body.
The pitch for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series was initially rated as ‘poor’ by match referee Chris Broad following and received three demerit points. The Test, which Australia won, finished before lunch on the third day.
Footage from the Test was reviewed by an ICC appeal panel consisting of Wasim Khan, ICC general manager – Cricket, and Roger Harper, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee member.
Both were of the opinion that, while the guidelines had been followed by the Match Referee in accordance with Appendix A of the Pitch Monitoring Process, there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the ‘poor’ rating.
The panel, therefore, concluded that the pitch should be rated ‘below average’, meaning the Holkar Stadium will receive only one demerit point instead of the original three.
The turning pitch used in the third Test in Indore saw a total of 14 wickets falling on the opening day. Out of the 31 wickets that fell in the whole match, 26 were picked up by spinners.
The Test lasted two days and a session, at the end of which Australia emerged victorious to book their berth in the ICC World Test Championship Final.
India had to wait a few more days to book their own place in the final, which was confirmed when New Zealand edged Sri Lanka in the first Test in Christchurch.
