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India's 'two-day Test' pitch rated average

3 minute read

The much-criticised pitch used for February's two-day Test between India and England has received an 'average' rating from cricket's governing body.

NATHAN LYON of Australia. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Nathan Lyon has been vindicated after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was rated as 'average' by the International Cricket Council (ICC) despite the recent India-England Test lasting only two days.

Several former England players and pundits questioned the suitability of the pitch while their Indian counterparts said the poor batting was due to the pink ball, which replaces the traditional red balls for day-night Test matches.

Lyon hit back at claims the surface in Ahmedabad had ruined the contest, where India crushed the tourists by 10 wickets in a pink-ball match that spanned just 842 balls, making it the shortest completed Test since 1934.

"We play on seaming wickets around the world and get bowled out for 47, 60. Nobody ever says a thing (about the pitch)," the Australian spinner said at the time.

"But as soon as it starts spinning, everyone in the world seems to start crying about it.

"I don't get it. I'm all for it, it was entertaining."

The ICC's decision avoided India's newest stadium - the largest in the world with a capacity of 132,000 - being hit with demerit points.

Venues can be suspended for a year if they pick up five demerit points and for two years if they pick up 10.

A 'below average' rating by the International Cricket Council's match referee brings one point, a 'poor' rating brings three while the lowest rating of 'unfit' comes with five.

Demerit points remain active for a rolling five years.