Ashes winners react to ICC’s official rating of Perth Stadium pitch as Test cricket returns to MCG for Boxing Day
Test greats slam Perth pitch rating
Former Test players Mitchell Johnson and Michael Vaughan have criticised the ICC for officially rating the Perth Stadium pitch ‘average’, with Vaughan saying, “and they wonder why Test Match cricket is struggling”.
It was revealed on Friday that match referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the pitch used for the second Domain Test at Perth Stadium as 'average', the lowest pass mark provided by the ICC when they assess the pitch and outfield of Test grounds.
Madugalle’s rating comes despite the playing surface receiving high praise following an enthralling Test match, with Australian coach Justin Langer saying, "anyone who says there's anything wrong with that wicket … must've been watching a different game”.
Johnson and Vaughan slammed the decision on Twitter on Friday, with Johnson saying there was “nothing wrong” with the pitch and also exchanging some forthright opinions with former India opener Aakash Chopra.
And they wonder why Test Match cricket is struggling .. Was a tremendously exciting pitch which had a bit for everyone .. Should be more like this IMO .. https://t.co/c5jx99oQfO%E2%80%94 Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 21, 2018
Nothing wrong with it. It was exciting to watch a contest between bat and ball for a change and not these dull flat tracks being served up constantly. I’d actually be interested in knowing what a good pitch is? Hope for another exciting test at the MCG 🏏 https://t.co/Q1vOYm6AaB%E2%80%94 Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 21, 2018
Inconsistent bounce use to happen a lot, the pitch is supposed to deteriorate. Is it any different to a pitch that spins a metre or more & stays low?%E2%80%94 Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 21, 2018
Plenty of pitches much worse that never had this rating. I know what you saying & no issues with you disagreeing & having your opinion, that’s all good. But I still disagree & have no idea why you would comment directly to me?%E2%80%94 Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 21, 2018
Johnson retired partway through the 2015 Perth Test at the old WACA Ground, a high-scoring draw on a flat surface that the left-armer later conceded expedited his plan to call it quits.
The ICC’s verdict this week is presumably related to the uneven bounce that became more prevalent later in the match.
Aaron Finch retired hurt after his right glove was struck by a Mohammed Shami delivery while Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine were dismissed in Australia’s second innings by balls that reared sharply off a good length.
While the quicks enjoyed the unpredictable bounce, it was spinner Nathan Lyon who claimed player-of-the-match honours with eight wickets, while Indian skipper Virat Kohli proved there were runs on offer with a magnificent 123 in the first innings.
The ICC introduced a disciplinary system at the start of the year in a bid to improve the standard of pitches around the world and can provide six ratings – very good, good, average, below average, poor and unfit – when rating Test venues.
As of this year, grounds that receive a below average, poor or unfit rating are slapped with demerit points that, in the case of serious breaches or repeat offences, can lead to a venue being stripped of international status.
The MCG pitch for the Boxing Day Test last year received a rating of ‘poor’, but that finding came before the demerit points system was introduced. There is plenty of focus on new MCG curator Matthew Page this week ahead of the third Test, starting on Wednesday, in the famous venue’s first Test match since that ‘poor’ rating.
It is understood the Adelaide Oval pitch used in the first Domain Test received a 'very good' rating.
There were no public complaints from either camp after or during the second Test and broader commentary about the Perth wicket was almost entirely positive.
Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) chief Christina Matthews, speaking during the Test, described the pitch as "an outstanding success".
Domain Test Series v India
Dec 6-10: India won by 31 runs
Dec 14-18: Australia won by 146 runs
Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG
Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG
Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Archie Schiller
India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar