SCG received 'satisfactory' rating by ICC after fifth Test between India and Australia.
Former Australia captain Tim Paine was not happy with the rating the Sydney pitch got from the ICC for the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between India and Australia. The ICC had given the rating to all the pitches used the five-Test series and SCG was rated ‘satisfactory’.
After the fifth Test concluded in two and a half days without either Australia or India hitting the 200-run mark, former Australia skipper Tim Paine hammered the Sydney wicket. Australia won the series 3-1 after winning the Test by six wickets.
Throughout the game, the seamers had plenty of help from the pitch. By Day 2, the fissures were even showing indications of irregular bounce.
"It meant batting relied more on luck than skill, and although the ICC gave it a satisfactory rating, I would have given it the lowest possible rating and effectively placed the SCG on notice: dish up something like that again and you will be suspended from hosting international cricket,” Paine wrote in NewsCorp.
Additionally, Paine stated that the Sydney wicket should be looked at by the authorities. He brought up a Sheffield Shield game between Tasmania and New South Wales.
Additionally, Paine stated that the Sydney wicket should be looked at by the authorities. He brought up a Sheffield Shield game between Tasmania and New South Wales.
"It may seem extreme, but this isn’t a new phenomenon in Sydney. The Sheffield Shield pitch dished up when Tasmania played at the SCG last season was disgraceful. It is time to shape up or face the consequences," said Paine.
Cricket Australia just released pitch ratings for the whole Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the tracks in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne obtained a 'very excellent' rating, the Sydney pitch was rated 'satisfactory'.
“The SCG has been striving to bring out their unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch wears and spins. This year was a step in the right direction to achieving this, providing an exciting finish to the Border Gavaskar Trophy series and bodes well for the Ashes summer in 2025-26," said Peter Roach, CA Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling.
Before Paine, another Australia captain Michael Clarke had also slammed the Sydney pitch, saying it was not a "good cricket wicket".