Bangalore Test pitch for INDvsSL 2nd Test rated below average by the ICC: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday gave its verdict on the Bangalore test pitch used during the pink ball match between India and Sri Lanka by slapping one demerit point. The Bangaluru surface has received a “below-average” rating from the ICC.
The match referee for the second test between India and Sri Lanka, Javagal Srinath in his report mentioned that the Bangalore pitch offered turns right from day one of the Test. A total of 16 wickets fell on the opening day of the test following which India sealed a thumping win against the visitors.
Rohit Sharma-led team India won the second test against Sri Lanka by a massive 238 runs.
“The pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball,” said Javagal Srinath.
With the “below-average” rating, the Bangalore test pitch has received one demerit point under the council’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
Notably, the surface would be in trouble, had it received a “poor” rating along with three demerit points from the match referee. A pitch is suspended to host international matches for a span of 12 months if it accumulates 5 demerit points over 5 years period. The ban extends for 24 months if the wicket gets slapped with 10 demerit points.
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ICC’s match referee Chris Broad back in 2017 rated Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy wicket as “below-average”.
Earlier, this month, the wicket in Rawalpindi was also rated “Below-average” by Ranjan Madugalle. His report said that the surface couldn’t produce a fair contest between the bat and the ball.
Team India in fourth place in the WTC points table:
Meanwhile, team India has moved to fourth place in the recently updated ICC World Test Championship points table after whitewashing Sri Lanka in the two matches test series. The hosts received 12 rating points for their stunning performance against the island nation side.
India’s next Test assignment will be against England in their own backyard. The final test, which got postponed last year after team India were unable to field a proper playing11 due to multiple covid outbreaks in the camp, will be played to complete the five matches series.
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