ICC gives “below average” rating for Bengaluru pitch

Match Referee Chris Broad has given a “below average” rating to the pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where the second Test was played. The outfield however has been rated as “very good”.

The second Test in Bengaluru ended in four days.

For the second time in as many weeks, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given a negative rating for a Test match pitch prepared for the ongoing four-Test series against Australia.

Match Referee Chris Broad has given a “below average” rating to the pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where the second Test was played. Officials who are privy to the match referee report said: “The pitch (at Bengaluru) has been rated below average, and the outfield as very good.”

The second Test in Bengaluru ended in four days with India levelling the series 1-1, after being thrashed by 333 runs at Pune.

After the first Test in Pune ended in three days with 31 wickets falling to spinners, Broad had given a “poor” rating for the pitch.

The Australian media is already critical of the pitch prepared for the third Test in Ranchi. The Sydney Morning Herald has said: “Local officials did their best to control the latest pitch doctoring storm, trying in vain to restrict inspection of the pitch to the captain and coach. They banned players from taking pictures, but close-up images have emerged of the flint-hard, bone-dry and grassless surface, which one Australian described as the most “ridiculous” pitch he had seen.”

India played three Test matches against New Zealand and four against England last year and one against Bangladesh in January. None of the reports had anything adverse to mention.