International Cricket Council match referee Richie Richardson gave the pitch used for the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November a “satisfactory” rating.
The low-scoring Test ended in three days with a 30-run victory for South Africa.
South Africa spinner Simon Harmer took four wickets in both innings, and India was bowled out for a pitiful 93 in their second innings after being set 124 for victory.
There was uneven bounce from ball one in the Test match, with some deliveries rising too high and others barely bouncing, giving spinners plenty of turn. The pitch proved to be a tough test for the batters of both teams and Jasprit Bumrah claimed five wickets.
India lost despite taking a crucial 30-run lead in the first innings after scoring 189, as both teams were unable to reach 200 runs in either innings.
After the game, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the pitch in the face of criticism, saying, “This was exactly the pitch we were looking for.”
Despite the intense criticism the pitch received from both fans and experts, the rating will allow Eden Gardens avoid any ICC punishments, according to ESPNCricinfo.
For the first time in 13 years, India lost a Test match at Eden Gardens against the Proteas.
“Satisfactory” is located at level two in the ICC’s four-tier pitch rating system, directly between “very good” and “unsatisfactory.” “Unfit” is the lowest possible grade for a pitch.
An “unsatisfactory” rating and a penalty point were recently given to the MCG pitch for the Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England, which concluded in two days.
