IND v ENG 2021: Ahmedabad pink-ball Test pitch escapes sanctions after ICC rates it ‘average’

Chepauk pitches for first two Tests received Very Good and Average rating.

The pitch for the third Test between India and England in the recent four-match Test series was hugely debated as the pink-ball, day-night Test match ended in two days, with India winning by 10 wickets and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

It has the dubious distinction of being one of the shortest games in Test history, leading to scathing attacks from former English players like David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, and Andrew Strauss. While the England team management didn’t make any official complaint, they left it to ICC to decide on the quality of the wicket.

Now the ICC has rated the debated pitch as ‘average’ which keeps Ahmedabad away from serious sanctions.

It will now escape any sort of punishment, a fallout only if the rating were to be below average or worse. The rating for the fourth Test pitch, which was also played on the same ground, is 'Good'. That Test lasted three days with India inflicting an innings defeat on England.

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Under the new ICC rules that came into effect in January 2018, an 'average' rating entails no punitive measure, and in that sense, the Motera pitch will not be censured. A rating of poor or unfit would have resulted in serious consequences. A below-average rating would have led to one Demerit Point.

The pitch rating is given by the match referee in consultation with match officials (umpires), who used to be always from neutral countries.

Cricbuzz reports that while discussing the pitch, the match, and ICC officials have observed the footage and determined that the third Test surface had the much-required carry, a key ingredient, the absence of which would have led to a lower rating.

The officials also took into consideration the color of the ball and concluded that the extra layer of pink coating facilitated the ball's skiddy behavior. Also, the previous results of the pink-ball tests were taken into consideration.

Of the 16 Pink Ball Tests so far, only five have gone to the fifth day, with two of them ending inside two days and five inside three days. Four day/night Tests ended on Day Four.

On the other hand, the two surfaces for the first two Test matches which were played at Chepauk in Chennai received the ratings of Very Good and Average respectively.

(Cricbuzz inputs)