'How many demerit points did Gabba pitch get where match ended in 2 days?' - Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at ICC for harsh assessment of Indore pitch
The Indore pitch received three demerit points from ICC.
Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his clear displeasure over the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rating of the Indore pitch (Holkar Stadium), after the conclusion of the third Test on February 3, 2023.
The third Test was yet another instance of a Test match concluding in three days in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. While the pitches of the first two Tests were talked about a lot, the Indore pitch went on to cross all the limits of scrutiny.
It was not dangerous - Sunil Gavaskar questions ICC's mode of assessment
"I think 3 demerit points is a little harsh, because, in this pitch, yes the ball turned, but it was not dangerous. When Australia get to a score of 77 for the loss of one wicket it actually tells you that the pitch got a lot better," the 73-year-old said while speaking to India Today.
The former India opener didn't mince his words in portraying his dissapointment on the rating the Indore pitch. He was of the opinion that the Indore pitch wasn't as bad and unnecessary fuss is being constantly made around it.
Match referee Chris Broad on his analysis of the Indore pitch had said that the pitch favoured the spinners and there was massive absence of a fair competition between the bat and ball. He went on to take a direct dig at the ICC and slammed the global governing body of being blatantly biased, as the Gabba pitch of 2022 received a much more lenient rating where a Test match between Australia and South Africa had concluded within two days. Interestingly, the Gabba pitch received just one demerit point while being rated "below-average."
"One thing I would like to know, there was this Test match in November in Brisbane Gabba, where the match finished in 2 days. How many demerit points did that pitch get and who was the match referee there."
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