The International Cricket Council has changed the rating of the pitch for the third Test between India and Australia to ‘below average’ after BCCI appealed for a review.
The spin-friendly pitch in Indore had been rated ‘Poor’ by match referee Chris Broad following a swift finish before Lunch on the third day, with Australia winning the match comprehensively. Initially, Broad in his report had stated, “The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start. The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match.”
Following the initial rating, where Indore was handed three demerit points, it has now been changed to one demerit point. Upon reconsideration, it was deemed by the ICC that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the “poor” rating. Instead, the appeal panel reached a conclusion that the pitch must be rated as “below average, the governing body stated in a media release.
According to ICC’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring process, a venue could be suspended for 12 months if it accumulates five or more demerit points.
The Indore pitch will receive only 1 demerit point rather than 3 after an ICC appeal panel ruled that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the 'poor' rating #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/mQzvi2MsTb
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2023
