NOT THE FIRST TIME

HT looks at instances where the pitch or ground conditions were deemed either poor or unfit to play. The ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process was introduced in 2006.

DUE TO PITCH

1997, Indore: The India-Sri Lanka ODI was abandoned. It was the first time an international match was called off because the pitch was judged unsafe. The match was called off at the end of the 3rd over. 2008, Kanpur: The Green Park track during the IndiaSouth Africa Test got BCCI an official warning from the ICC. India who were trailing 0-1 going into the last match of the series won the Test, inside three days. 2009, Delhi: The India-Sri Lanka ODI was abandoned as the pitch was declared dangerous by ICC. The venue was banned for a year. Only 23.3 overs were bowled in that match. 1998, Kingston, West Indies: The first Test between West Indies and England was abandoned because of a dangerous pitch. It took less than an hour’s play at Sabina Park to come to a conclusion that the pitch was substandard, an unprecedented move in Test cricket’s 122-year history.

2015, Nagpur: The Jamtha surface used for the 3rd Test between India and South Africa was rated ‘poor’ by match referee, Jeff Crowe. The match finished inside 3 days, ending in an India win.

DUE TO OUTFIELD

2009, North Sound, West

Indies: The Test between England and West Indies was abandoned after just 10 balls because the bowlers were unable to get any solid foothold in a sandy outfield. Alan Hurst, the match referee, ruled: “The ground conditions, and especially the bowlers’ run-ups, were unfit and potentially dangerous.”