Indore pitch rating changed from ‘poor’ to ‘below average’ on BCCI appeal

DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday changed the pitch rating of Indore’s Holkar Stadium, the venue for the third Test between India and Australia, from ‘poor’ to ‘below average’ after BCCI’s appeal.

According to the ICC, the pitch was initially rated as poor and earned three demerit points but after a review by an ICC appeal panel, the rating was changed to below average, meaning the stadium received only one demerit point instead of three.

“The footage from the Test was reviewed by an ICC appeal panel consisting of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, and Roger Harper, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Member,” said ICC in a statement.

“Both were of the opinion that, while the guidelines had been followed by the Match Referee in accordance with Appendix A of the Pitch Monitoring Process, there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the ‘poor’ rating.”

With a total of 14 wickets falling on just the opening day of the third Test in Indore, the pitch proved extremely favourable to the spinners, who claimed 26 out of 31 wickets taken over in the entire game.

The Test lasted two days and a session as Australia sealed a nine-wicket over India in that match to book their berth in the ICC World Test Championship Final.

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