India-England third Test pitch rated average despite second-day finish

The match, which ended inside two days and was the shortest completed Test since 1935 as only 842 balls were bowled, saw 28 out of 30 wickets fall to spin

The pitch used during the third Test between India and England in Ahmedabad has been marked as “average” by the ICC.

The match, which ended inside two days and was the shortest completed Test since 1935 as only 842 balls were bowled, saw 28 out of 30 wickets fall to spin.

England were bundled out for 112 and 81, while India fared little better in their first innings, succumbing to Joe Root’s first five-wicket haul in professional cricket as the hosts were bowled out for 145, before winning by 10 wickets after tea.

“Average” is the third-highest of six available marks that can be awarded, with “below average”, “poor” and “unfit” the three negative options open to the match referee.

If a pitch or outfield is marked as substandard, the home board – in this case, the BCCI – would have been required to explain why that was the case, with the ICC able to hand down sanctions.

The surface for the second Test in Chennai was also rated as “average”.

Former India Test players VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh all questioned the quality of the conditions, as did former England captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton.

India captain Virat Kohli claimed it was “very good”, however, while Root preferred to leave scrutiny to the ICC and instead suggested that the lacquer on the pink ball had caused the ball to skid off the surface more quickly than usual.

Speaking in the aftermath, Ravichandran Ashwin – who went to 400 Test wickets during the Test – was irked by the continued discussion and attempted to shut down further debate during a lengthy tirade.

“The bowlers want to win the game,” said the off-spinner. “The batsman needs to bat well to get runs. No question about it. What makes a good surface? Who defines this? Seam on the first day and then bat well and then spin on the last two days? Come on.

“Who makes all these rules, we need to get over it and not talk about whatever picture you want to paint. If you're asking if it is a good Test surface, I don't see any of the players coming from England having an issue with the surface. They want to improve, they look like they want to have a contest.

“Is it the players and the people who are reporting back that want their players to not complete and complain about the pitches? Because we have never done that on any of the tours.

“It depends on what you are hoping for. We hope for a good cricket match. That's what you should be hoping for not worrying about the surface.”

A pitch in men's international cricket was last deemed “poor” in January 2018, when South Africa faced India at Wanderers in Johannesburg.

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