The ICC has decided to change the rating of the pitch for the third Test between IND and AUS to be held in Indore. The BCCI decided to file an appeal after the match referee rated the Holkar Stadium pitch as ‘poor’. In what could be called the successful outcome of the appeal, the rating was revised from ‘Poor’ to ‘Below Average’. However, the ICC’s decision has not gone down well with a section of the AUS media.
Australian media outlet termed the decision as ‘ridiculous’ as Darren reacted on it –
Criticizing the apex board’s decision, an Australian outlet termed the decision as ‘ridiculous’. Even former Australia cricketer and coach Darren Lehmann reacted to the news on social media.
After the BCCI filed an appeal, the footage of the match was reviewed, based on which the rating was upgraded to ‘Below Average’.
Explaining the decision, the ICC said in a statement – “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.
Also Read:-Simon Doull and Aamer Sohail clash over Babar Azam’s strike-rate goes viral
ICC added –
“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.”
ICC further said – “The panel, therefore, concluded that the pitch should be rated ‘below average’, meaning the Holkar Stadium will receive only one demerit point instead of the original three.”
