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Cape Town pitch 'unsatisfactory', receives one demerit point
09 Jan, 2024
ICC announced that the pitch for the second Test of the World Test Championship series between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town has been rated as “unsatisfactory” under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the Newlands pitch in Cape Town, which hosted the second India-South Africa Test in January, 2024, as ‘unsatisfactory’. The match turned out to be the shortest ever Test, lasting 642 legal deliveries.
According to ESPNcricinfo.com, the previous shortest game was in the 1931-32 season in Melbourne between Australia and South Africa. That match lasted for a total of 656 balls.
In the India-South Africa match, the Proteas were shot out for 55. India made 153 in response, collapsing from 153/4 to 153 all out. South Africa then made 176 in second innings while India chased the 79-run target losing just three wickets.
The series was drawn 1-1. The Proteas had won the first Test by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion.
However, the pitch in the second match created much controversy.
“ICC Match Referee Chris Broad submitted his report expressing the concerns of the match officials and after consulting with captains Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma, both of whom felt that the pitch was below standard. Following the assessment, the venue has received one demerit point,” said a statement from the ICC.
“The report has been forwarded to Cricket South Africa, who have 14 days to appeal against the sanction,” the statement added.
The statement also quoted match referee Chris Broad as saying, “The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce.”
Cricket, ICC, India, South Africa, Cape Town, Newlands