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ICC revises Indore pitch rating to "below average" from "poor"

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Last updated on 27 Mar 2023 | 07:02 AM
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ICC revises Indore pitch rating to "below average" from "poor"

ICC appeal panel deemed that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the “poor” rating

The Indore Test between India and Australia ended in three days, with batters from both sides struggling to make enough runs out there. A puff of dust started to dominate the proceedings throughout the Test, which made the ICC to rate the pitch as "poor". 

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India made an appeal to the ICC for a revision and a through review of the Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the rating of pitch used for the third Test has been changed from “poor” to “below average.”

Having reviewed footage of the Test match, the ICC appeal panel, consisting of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, and Roger Harper, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Member, 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, it was deemed that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the “poor” rating. Instead, the appeal panel concluded that the pitch should be rated as “below average”.

In the revised ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, which was introduced on 4 January 2018, if a pitch or outfield is rated as being substandard, that venue will be allocated a number of demerit points.

One demerit point will be awarded to venues whose pitches are rated by the match referees as below average, while three and five demerit points will be awarded to venues whose pitches are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.

After the Test, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour said that the Indore surface offered more turn than they expected but sympathised with the curators, saying they didn’t get enough time to prepare the pitch after the third Test was shifted here from Dharamsala just before the start of the second Test in Delhi. 

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