The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed an average rating to India's pitches in Nagpur and Delhi for the first two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests against Australia, reported Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday (February 23).
Ahead of the marquee series, the playing surfaces were a major topic of discussion.
The pitch at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur has received an "average" rating from the apex body and its match referee, Andy Pycroft.
The strip for the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi also received an "average" rating by Pycroft. The surface was deemed to be fair if not perfect.
Even before a ball was bowled in the Test series, the talks of ‘doctored pitches’ grabbed the headlines.
The ground staff in Nagpur was seen preparing the pitch for the first Test with some selective watering, leading to Australian media accusing the hosts of doctoring the surface to trouble the touring team’s left-handed batters.
Similar allegations were made after Australia’s first innings folded for a paltry 177 on Day 1 of the opening Test. No Aussie batter managed to hit a half-century as India’s spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja (5/47) and R Ashwin (3/42) ran through the visiting batting line-up.
However, the hosts piled up a massive 400 on the same wicket to register an innings and 132-run victory, thereby putting the ‘doctored pitches’ allegations to rest.
In the Delhi Test, Australian batters committed harakiri in the second innings to succumb to a six-wicket defeat against India inside three days.
At the close of play on Day 2, the Pat Cummins-led side was in the driver’s seat with a second-innings score of 61/1 and an overall lead of 62 runs. However, Ravindra Jadeja (7/42) spun a web around Australia with the ball in the first session on the third day, bundling out the visitors for a paltry 113.
India then chased down the 115-run target to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy for fourth straight time.
Indore and Ahmedabad are scheduled to host the third and fourth Tests from March 1 and March 9, respectively.
