The ICC evaluated the pitches used for the India vs. Australia Tests as “average” – Reports

According to reports, ICC match referee Andy Pycroft rated the surfaces at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as “average” for the first two Test matches between India and Australia. The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have confirmation of this from senior cricket sources.

India took a commanding 2-0 lead in the four-match series and successfully defended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a result of the match, which was played on the aforementioned surfaces, concluding in three days. Spin was present in both locations from the first session.

As the game went on, Australia in particular found it difficult to adjust to the field. On the tour, they were caught stealing for scores of 113 and 91 in their second innings. In Delhi’s first session of Day 3, the Australians also lost nine wickets, with most of the batters choosing to play the sweep or the reverse sweep.

The last Test match played on a subcontinental surface had a poor pitch rating in March 2022 at Bangalore between the Men in Blue and Sri Lanka. The pink-ball Test likewise ended in three days, and the match official rated the rank turner as “below ordinary.”

The surface for the series opener in Pune, which the Australians famously won by bundling out India for 100 and 103, received a low grade from ICC match referee Chris Broad during Australia’s most recent tour in 2017. A “below average” grade was given to the following match, which was played in Bangalore and in which Australia failed to chase down 184 in the last innings.

3rd India vs. Australia Test will be held in Indore

Despite India’s early commanding lead in the series, there are still many things at stake. The winners of the final World Test Championship (WTC) match in June 2023 might be decided by the results of the two remaining games.

Following significant squad reorganisation, Australia has reset. Pat Cummins, the team’s captain, has returned home because a member of his family is ill, and Josh Hazlewood and David Warner have been forced to withdraw from the series owing to injuries. In contrast, Ashton Agar was also dismissed after failing to appear in either of the opening two games.