Former Test cricketers Mitchell Johnson and Michael Vaughan have slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for giving an ‘average’ rating to the Perth Stadium pitch, which hosted India’s second Test against Australia.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the pitch as average, the lowest pass mark provided by ICC
Melbourne:
“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 on his twitter handle. Vaughan also took to Twitter to criticise ICC’s decision.
“And it wonders why Test Match cricket is struggling .. Was a tremendously exciting pitch which had a bit for everyone .. Should be more like this IMO...” The ICC’s rating is presumably due to the uneven bounce that became more prevalent later in the match.
However, Johnson disagreed. “Inconsistent bounce used 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?,” he wrote. The Perth pitch saw some sharp bounce with one Mohammed Shami delivery hitting Australia opener Aaron Finch’s right glove, forcing him to retire hurt.
Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine were also dismissed in Australia’s second innings by balls that reared sharply off a good length. However, Khawaja’s 72 after India skipper Virat Kohli’s 123 in the first innings proved there were runs on offer in the wicket.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle on Friday rated the pitch as ‘average’, the lowest pass mark provided by the ICC when it assesses the pitch and outfield of Test grounds. Australia had defeated India by 146 runs on the fifth and final day of the second Test.
“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 on his twitter handle. Vaughan also took to Twitter to criticise ICC’s decision.
“And it wonders why Test Match cricket is struggling .. Was a tremendously exciting pitch which had a bit for everyone .. Should be more like this IMO...” The ICC’s rating is presumably due to the uneven bounce that became more prevalent later in the match.
However, Johnson disagreed. “Inconsistent bounce used 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?,” he wrote. The Perth pitch saw some sharp bounce with one Mohammed Shami delivery hitting Australia opener Aaron Finch’s right glove, forcing him to retire hurt.
Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine were also dismissed in Australia’s second innings by balls that reared sharply off a good length. However, Khawaja’s 72 after India skipper Virat Kohli’s 123 in the first innings proved there were runs on offer in the wicket.