AUS v IND 2018-19: Vaughan and Johnson critical of ICC's "average" rating for Perth pitch

The surface exhibited significant seam movement as well as uneven bounce and turn.

It was quite an innocuous sort of surface | Getty

The International Cricket Council(ICC) announced an official "average" rating for the surface employed for the second Australia versus India Test at the new Optus stadium in Perth and it is something Michael Vaughan and Mitchell Johnson seems to be in genuine disagreement with.

On Friday, December 21, match referee Ranjan Madugalle passed on his report regarding the pitch used in Perth which was later termed "average" which is the lowest passing mark provided by the ICC in assessing the pitch and outfield for Test grounds around the world.

There was a lot of live grass on the pitch which had a drop-in underneath and hence significant seam movement, as well as uneven bounce and turn, were observed throughout the course of the match.

Nathan Lyon got a bagful of wickets, while one Jasprit Bumrah bouncer hit Marcus Harris quite awkwardly in the first innings itself, with the same bowler getting Pat Cummins out bowled with a ball that kept very low.

But, Virat Kohli(123) and Usman Khawaja(72) laid evidence to the fact that there were important runs to be scored if one gets in.

"Nothing wrong with it. It was exciting to watch a contest between bat and ball for a change and not these dull flat tracks being served up constantly. I’d actually be interested in knowing what a good pitch is? Hope for another exciting test at the MCG," Johnson wrote over Twitter, as Australia levelled the series with a dominating 146-run victory in the game.

"Inconsistent bounce use to happen a lot, the pitch is supposed to deteriorate. Is it any different to a pitch that spins a metre or more & stays low?"

This is when Vaughan echoed Johnson's sentiment by stating criticism of the decision from the world's sport governing body.

"And they wonder why Test Match cricket is struggling .. Was a tremendously exciting pitch which had a bit for everyone .. Should be more like this IMO..," Vaughan posted via Twitter.

 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 22 Dec, 2018

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