ICC’s report card for Tests at Motera and Green Park

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Mumbai: The International Cricket Council?s pitch report card for the first two Tests between India and Sri Lanka played at Motera, Ahmedabad and Green Park, Kanpur does not bring good news for the Gujarat Cricket Association and Uttar ... More... ICC’s report card for Tests at Motera and Green Park G. Viswanath Mumbai: The International Cricket Council’s pitch report card for the first two Tests between India and Sri Lanka played at Motera, Ahmedabad and Green Park, Kanpur does not bring good news for the Gujarat Cricket Association and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. The Motera pitch has received a “below average” rating and the Green Park an “above average” rating from Jeff Crowe, the ICC Match Referee. The ICC rates the pitch in the following six categories — very good, good, above average, below average, poor and unfit. The ICC Match Referees follow a guide-sheet that takes into account uniform covering of grass along the length of the pitch, if the pitch appears completely dry at the start of the match, use of heavy roller and its effect on the pitch, bounce and consistency of bounce, seam movement and amount of turn on all days of the match. The rating for the outfield at Motera has been termed good while the outfield at Kanpur has been termed below average. In his brief comment about Motera, Crowe has stated that there was plenty of discussion on the pitch that looked even-flat and really looked dry at the start, but never deteriorated enough and it did not have any characteristics for any bowler to use it. Fast outfield Crowe has also mentioned that the outfield was fast which is evident in the 175 fours hit and only 12 threes and that another inch of grass would have given the bowlers assistance for a feel of an even contest. With regard to Kanpur, Crowe has remarked that the pitch played better than expected, there was little deterioration, the grass held the pitch okay with consistency of bounce being the only matter for query. “Some help for bowlers, but generally it was a good batting strip for three and half days. It could not be said that it was a better pitch than the first Test, just that one team played poorly. Outfield is a concern; very fast being hard dirt with patchy grass cover. Players did not dive and used their feet often to stop the ball. Some coaches thought it was poor without being dangerous.” Crowe has also pointed out that there was little or no seam movement and only moderate turn at both Motera and Green Park.

[vvvslaxman]

Outfields are poor on most of our grounds. Very much fixable. As far as pitch goes they cannot just say "One team played poorly" and blame the pitch.

[saneindian]

Is there a place where we can go and read the report by match referees for all the tests played? Would be interesting to read about the view of the refs on pitches away from sub continent.

[Sachinism]

seems fair enough. Motera pitch was pretty crap.