Follow UsIn what comes as a surprise, the pitch for the first Ashes Test between Australia and England in Perth has been rated "very good" by the ICC despite the match ending in just two days. Only 847 deliveries were bowled across the Test, which saw as many as 32 wickets fall in five sessions.
Despite this, match referee Ranjan Madugalle observed that the track provided an even contest between bat and ball. However, in the India vs West Indies Tests recently, the pitches in Ahmedabad and Delhi were given only a satisfactory rating despite both matches going on for way longer.
A "very good" rating under ICC's four-tier system implies that the pitch had carry, limited seam movement and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing both batters and bowlers to remain in the game.
"The match referee's 'very good' rating justifies our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball," James Allsopp, Cricket Australia's chief of cricket, said.
"The dominance of some brilliant pace bowling from both sides and the frenetic nature of the contest meant the match lasted only two days. This was disappointing for fans holding tickets for days three and four, but we saw some incredible moments which captivated huge viewing audiences."
In the first Test, which Australia won by eight wickets, 200 was breached just once - in the fourth innings, thanks to a blistering 123 off just 83 from Travis Head. The two teams will resume their rivalry in the second Test, which will get underway in Brisbane from December 4.