Hazlewood's solution to pitch rating debate

Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood has suggested a player and public vote could change the way Test pitches are rated by the International Cricket Council as he and teammate Mitchell Starc questioned the ICC's assessment of the Perth Stadium pitch.

Reports that match referee Ranjan Madugalle officially rated the pitch for the second Domain Test 'average', the lowest pass mark possible under the ICC's system, was slammed by Test greats Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Mitchell Johnson and Michael Vaughan, with Warne saying, "someone has to be accountable for this terrible decision".

Cricket Australia is yet to receive Madugalle's official report from Perth, but cricket.com.au understands the media reports of an 'average' rating are accurate. The ICC has 14 days from the time they receive Madugalle's report to send it on to CA officials.

Cricket.com.au also understands the pitch for the Adelaide Test earlier this month was rated 'very good', the highest possible under the ICC's system.

Match referees speak to both captains and umpires before finalising their post-match reports, but Hazlewood has suggested that could be extended to all players and possibly even the public, saying the 22 players on the field are in the best position to judge how a pitch performs.

"I think rather than one person giving the rating, maybe votes go around to the players or staff or anyone involved," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au.

"You'd get a broader collective feedback from players.

"Even a public poll could get some good feedback or some bad feedback. I'm sure the first two (Test) wickets have been well received by the public as well as the players involved."

Image Id: B1729E87C1AE4C0CAB157977C5EA9097 Image Caption: 'As far as I'm concerned, it ticked every box' // Getty

The 'average' rating from Perth likely stems from the inconsistent bounce the pitch produced at times, notably late in Australia's second innings on the fourth day.

Tim Paine and Usman Khawaja were both dismissed from deliveries that reared off a good length, Pat Cummins was bowled by a ball that kept low and Nathan Lyon was struck a nasty blow on the helmet. Earlier in the match, Aaron Finch was forced to retire hurt after copping a nasty blow on the finger.

But Starc and Hazlewood, who shared a 36-run last-wicket stand after Lyon was dismissed, denied the inconsistent bounce was dangerous for the players.

"I know a couple of people got hit in the head and shoulders, but it's Test cricket,' Hazlewood said. "You're bowling 140kph, guys are going to get hit on any wicket.

"I thought it was a great wicket. Guys got hundreds, guys got seventies, spin got wickets, quicks got wickets. What else do you really want from it? It was competitive cricket and it went to day five.

"As far as I'm concerned, it ticked every box."

Starc, who like Hazlewood is a proud member of the Fast Bowling Cartel, added: "Test cricket's not meant to be comfortable.

"I know it's a batter's game, but that's what makes the games exciting - when you get an even battle between bat and ball."

The wider debate about Test pitches is particularly relevant heading into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which was given a 'poor' rating last year following a drab drawn Ashes Test that was slammed by players and pundits.

Starc, who labelled last year's pitch "shocking", said surfaces like the one in Perth last week should be encouraged and are the key to a healthy Test game worldwide.

"When you get the Test match here last year when it was just a run fest and the wicket did nothing, it was a pretty boring Test match and it didn't get a result," Starc said.

"I think if wickets are closer to what we saw in Perth, it's going to create better Test cricket and a more exciting atmosphere, and you'll get more people watching and coming to games.

"You had a fantastic Test match over five days … and a fantastic battle between ball and bat which is what you want you want in Test match cricket. So I think (the average rating) was a bit harsh.

"The fact it was such an exciting Test match, that's what you want to promote in Test cricket and you want to see wickets that are like that in the future."

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