IND vs AUS: Pitch ratings for Border-Gavaskar Trophy out, Sydney not as good as other venues

All things wrapped up as India, after successfully keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for a long time, has failed to defend it once more, as Australia clinched the series by a 3-1 margin. In all this, the ICC released the pitch ratings for all venues used in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Not surprisingly, venues that received a “very good” rating mean the pitch offered a fair contest between bat and ball and had consistent bounce and movement, which was needed for the game. However, what came as a surprise was the Sydney Cricket Ground, which hosted the last game between India and Australia, receiving a “satisfactory” rating after the Test match at the iconic venue concluded in less than three days. A satisfactory rating is the second-highest on ICC’s scale.

Why did the SCG pitch receive an average rating from ICC?

The Sydney Test, which lasted just three days, came as a surprise to many, as the venue is traditionally known for being more spin-friendly. However, in the recently held game, we saw more seam movement and bounce, which is not the typical SCG surface. Still, India went with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, trying to increase depth in the batting.

Despite this, they were bowled out for 185 runs. Australia, on the other hand, was dismissed for 181 on Day 2, with 11 wickets falling on Day 1 and 15 wickets on Day 2, mostly taken by pacers. Something was there for the pacers, but almost nothing for the spinners. In the end, despite getting bowled out for 181, Australia roared back and dismissed India for just 157 in the second innings, chasing down the target with six wickets to spare.

Venue	Pitch Rating
Perth Stadium	Very Good
Adelaide Oval	Very Good
Gabba	Very Good
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)	Very Good
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)	Satisfactory

How the ICC Pitch Rating Works

Several factors, including bounce and movement, spin, match results, and player feedback, are considered when deciding the pitch rating. After that, the ratings range from Very good to Unfit.

Very Good: If rated as very good, it means the pitch provides a fair contest between bat and ball, offering consistent bounce, movement, and doesn’t excessively favor either discipline.
Satisfactory: This is the second highest rating and comes into play when a pitch is generally acceptable but may favour one discipline slightly more than the other. It offers fair competition, but there may be some minor issues, such as uneven bounce or slight favouritism towards either batting or bowling.
Unsatisfactory: Either favouring one discipline excessively or providing unpredictable conditions. This includes uneven bounce, excessive turn, or excessive seam movement.
Unfit: The final rating, “unfit,” comes when a pitch is deemed dangerous or unsuitable for play. This could involve extreme conditions like excessive cracks, too much moisture, or uneven bounce, all of which endanger the safety of the players. Venues that receive unsatisfactory or unfit ratings are given demerit points.

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