ICC changed rating of Indore pitch after BCCI's appeal, demerit point also reduced from three to one
The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia was over in Indore within three days.
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The pitch of the third Test match played between India and Australia in Indore was put in the category of 'poor' pitches by the International Cricket Council (ICC). After this, the BCCI appealed against this decision on 14 March. Now the ICC has changed the rating of the pitch on the appeal of BCCI and has given a new verdict. The ICC has changed the pitch rating of Holkar Stadium in Indore from 'poor' to 'below average'.
India had to face defeat
The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia was over in Indore within three days. The pitch at Indore was rated poor under the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring process. The spinners of both the teams were helped a lot by the spin-friendly surface right from the start of the first day. On the first day, 13 out of 14 wickets were taken by the spinners.
Of the 31 wickets that fell during the entire match, 26 were taken by the spinners, while only four went to the fast bowlers. A batsman was run out. In this Test, Australia defeated India under the captaincy of Steve Smith. With this victory, Australia qualified for the final of the World Test Championship. However, Team India won the four-match Test series 2-1. The last Test played in Ahmedabad was a draw.
ICC rates pitches on these five grounds
very good
Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
Unfit
ICC had given three demerit points, which was changed
ICC had given three demerit points to Holkar Stadium. The council took this decision after submitting a report to match referee Chris Broad about the pitch and talking to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Australian captain Steve Smith. After this, the BCCI appealed against the decision of the ICC. ICC's two-member panel has changed the rating of the pitch after examining the matter and reviewing the decision. Now, due to change in rating, demerit points have also decreased. Instead of three demerit points, now the pitch has got only one demerit point.
What did match referee Chris Broad say?
Talking on the pitch, match referee Chris Broad said – the pitch was very dry. She was unable to strike a balance between bat and ball. The spinners dominated the pitch from the start. The fifth ball of the match broke through the surface of the pitch. Also, there was little or no seam movement on the Holkar Stadium pitch. There was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match.
Indore Stadium also averted the threat of suspension
According to the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring procedure, if a pitch receives five or more demerit points in a rolling period of five years, it will be suspended from hosting international cricket for a period of 12 months. Are being given. In such a situation, Holkar Stadium got three demerit points, which has now been reduced to one. Due to this the threat of suspension has also been averted.
Indore's Nehru Stadium has been banned
Indore has already suffered losses due to bad pitch. Apart from Holkar Stadium, there was also Nehru Stadium for cricket. On 25 December 1997, an ODI match was played between India and Sri Lanka at the Nehru Stadium, which was abandoned after just 18 balls.
Arjuna Ranatunga, the then Sri Lankan captain, alleged that the pitch was not prepared properly and refused to play on it. After this the ICC had banned this stadium. In such a situation, the city had stopped getting international matches.