Sachin Tendulkar supports Perth pitch, says by no means it's "Average"

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar followed the footsteps of the likes of Shane Warne and Mitchell Johnson by coming in support of the Perth pitch at the new Optus stadium which made its Test debut during the second Test between India and Australia.

The former Indian batting great has begged to differ with International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rating of the pitch as “Average”  based on match referee Ranjan Madugalle’s observations during the Test which Australia won by 146 runs to square the series 1-1. Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee for the first two Tests of the four-match series had given an average rating to the pitch.

Sachin Tendulkar though was not at all satisfied with the apex body’s decision and lashed out at it. He insisted that wickets like the one that was used in Perth are needed in order to revive Test cricket. The Master Blaster believed that the pitch had something to offer to both the batsmen and the bowlers and was by no means average.

Pitches play a crucial role in Test cricket

“Pitches play a crucial role, especially in Test cricket. In order to revive Test cricket and generate excitement, we need to provide more pitches like the one at Perth, where the skills of batsmen and bowlers are truly TESTed. This pitch was by no means “Average”, the 45-year-old wrote.

The ICC introduced a rating system at the start of the year in its bid to improve the standard of the pitches- very good, good, average, below average and poor-when rating venues. “Average” is the lowest passing mark provided by the ICC when they rate the pitch and outfield of the Test ground.

The international body’s decision to rate the Perth “ordinary” pitch kicked up a storm as former cricketers Michael Vaughan, Shane Warne, and Mitchell Johnson disagreed with the cricket body. Johnson was even involved in a social media exchange with former India batsman Aakash Chopra, who seemingly backed the ICC’s rating.

Zimbabwe’s Andy Pycroft will be the match referee for the last two Tests of the series at Melbourne and Sydney. The third Test of the series begins on Boxing Day, December 26.

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