Dubai, Jan 8 (NationPress) The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the ratings for pitches used during the recently completed Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with four of the five Test venues achieving the top rating of 'outstanding'.
Perth Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Gabba, and Melbourne Cricket Ground were all rated as 'outstanding', while the venue for the final Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, received an 'adequate' rating.
The ICC has updated its pitch rating framework in 2023, reducing the previous six-tier system to four classifications: Outstanding, Adequate, Unsatisfactory, and Unfit.
Venues that are rated as unsatisfactory or unfit will incur demerit points, and accumulating five points within a five-year span could lead to a venue being barred from hosting international matches.
Peter Roach, Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling at Cricket Australia (CA), expressed his contentment with the ICC's ratings and emphasized the significance of pitch variety in maintaining the spirit of Test cricket.
“We are thrilled with the quality of the pitches prepared for the NRMA Insurance Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and appreciate the efforts of the curators and venues nationwide.
“We advocate for pitches that highlight the unique traits of each venue, which has always been a hallmark of Australian cricket. We firmly believe this is one of the factors that contributes to the popularity of Test cricket in Australia.
“Our goal is not to create wickets that advantage the home team or align with our strategic needs in a series. Instead, we aim for a fair contest between bat and ball and pitches that are likely to yield results.
“Weather conditions certainly play a crucial role in pitch preparation, and we recognize that even our most skilled curators face challenges due to unfavorable weather.
“The SCG has been working to highlight its unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch begins to wear and spin. This year has seen progress in this area, resulting in an exciting conclusion to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which bodes well for the upcoming Ashes series in 2025-26.
“The series also highlighted the advantages of hosting first-class cricket at major venues. It allows our curators to become more familiar with the various challenges involved in preparing pitches under different weather conditions and helps players acclimate to the conditions they will face in Test matches.”
