ICC has given its verdict on the bad pitch of IND vs SA Cape Town Test. The ICC has given one demerit point, terming the pitch of the match played at Newlands ground in Cape Town as unsatisfactory. This decision was taken under the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring process.
Let us tell you that this was the shortest Test match in history, which ended within two days. Only 107 overs i.e. 642 balls were bowled in the match. India won by seven wickets in Cape Town to level the two-match Test series 1-1.
Chris Broad submitted his report regarding Cape Town Test :-
ICC match referee Chris Broad submitted his report into the Cape Town Test, which expressed concerns about the match officials and deemed the Newlands pitch unsatisfactory after evaluation. Broad said, “It was very difficult to bat on the Newlands pitch. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes dangerously throughout the match, making shots difficult. The ball hit the gloves of many batsmen and many wickets fell due to the strange bounce.
What is the importance of demerit marks :-
In the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring process, if a pitch or outfield is not considered good then it is given demerit points. One demerit point is awarded to venues whose pitch and outfield are deemed unsatisfactory by the match referee. If a venue reaches six demerit points it is suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.
If there are 12 demerit points, there is a penalty of 24 months. These numbers remain active for a continuous period of five years. Cricket South Africa has 14 days to appeal the decision.
This was the second match of IND vs SA :-
It is noteworthy that in the match, South Africa’s first innings was reduced to just 55 runs, in which Mohammad Siraj took 6 wickets for 15 runs. In reply, India added 153 runs in the first innings. In 11 balls, 6 players of India were out without scoring any runs. South Africa made 176 in the second innings. During this period, Bumrah trapped 6 players in his net. India got the target of 79 runs, which it achieved in 12 overs at the loss of 3 wickets.
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