The ICC has finally given a “satisfactory” rating to the Eden Gardens pitch used during the recent India–South Africa Test match in Kolkata. This is a move that lets the historic venue avoid disciplinary action despite criticism over the playing surface.
Satisfactory sits just below very good and above unsatisfactory under the four-tier pitch rating system put in place by the ICC, with unfit being the lowest classification.
Why the Eden Gardens Pitch Drew Attention
The challenging conditions of the pitch dominated this three-day Test match, with variable bounce troubling the batsmen right from the first over and sharp turn coming increasingly into play as the game wore on to make it a bowler-dominated contest.
Key highlights include:
- Neither side could surpass the target of scoring 200 in an innings
- India lost their wickets to get only 93 runs when they needed only 124 to win
- The match was over within three days
- Bowlers Dominated on the Eden Gardens Deck
- The Eden Gardens pitch facilitated both seam bowlers and spinners.
- South Africa’s Simon Harmer (off-spin) and Marco Jansen (left-arm pace) were highly influential
India’s Jasprit Bumrah impressed on the first day with a five-wicket haul The infield was effectively “arming” both sets of bowlers, so batting was always a task.
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Mixed Reactions From the Indian Camp
This pitch developed into an issue that emerged during as well as after the match. India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was first to react to the conditions by commenting that this was “exactly the pitch we were looking for”. However, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak soon later refused to agree with this statement.
Kotak explained that the intent behind these statements was to protect the Eden Gardens curator, Sujan Mukherjee, implying that the team was surprised at the bouncing nature of the wicket, which had not been asked for.
Contrast with Guwahati Test Pitch
The second test match played in Guwahati saw a much more batter-friendly pitch. But in spite of that, the South Africans again won the match and sealed the series 2-0.
ICC Decision Ends Debate Over Eden Gardens
Although there has been criticism, the ICC’s satisfactory rating has ensured that the international standards have been met by the Eden Gardens pitch. The Eden Gardens has avoided being penalized, unlike the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which has received an unsatisfactory rating and a demerit point.
