India face ICC sanction for ‘poor pitch’ in Nagpur
NEW DELHI: In 2008, India defeated South Africa on a rank turner in Green Park, Kanpur to battle back through their spinners and force a 1-1 Test series draw. The International Cricket Council (ICC) pulled up the association, but the venue was let-off with a warning in the end.
Seven years later, Nagpur is now in the centre of focus after India wrapped up a handsome
win in three days on a dry, dusty pitch to clinch the series. The ICC match referee, Jeff Crowe of New Zealand, has rated the Jamtha pitch ‘poor’. The Indian cricket Board (BCCI) has a fortnight to respond.
“Jeff Crowe submitted his report to the ICC, expressing the concerns of the match officials over the performance of the pitch,” an ICC statement said on Tuesday.
Twenty wickets fell on the second day of the match, and all 40 tumbled inside three days, where R Ashwin’s career-best 12/98 led India to an easy win for an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The fourth Test starts in Delhi on Thursday.
After BCCI’s response, ICC general manager of cricket Geoff Allardice and chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle will rule whether the pitch was poor and whether it warrants a penalty.
ICC rules decree that if they confirm that the pitch was “poor”, a warning can be issued and/or “a fine not exceeding $15,000 (imposed) (`9.9 lakh), with a directive for appropriate corrective action”. DIABOLICAL The Nagpur pitch offered prodigious turn from day one, prompting Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell to call it “diabolical”, while former Australia opener Matthew Hayden termed it a “Bunsen burner” — slang for a turner.
Indian opener Murali Vijay’s first-innings 40 was the highest individual score in the Test, in which South Africa mustered just 79 in the first innings and lost all 20 wickets in the match to spinners.
Hashim Amla said the Nagpur track was the “toughest” he had faced in his Test career, but assistant coach Adrian Birrell refused to blame the pitches for the team’s series defeat. “We’re not complaining at all,” Birell said on Tuesday. “We’re playing in India and we’re playing in Indian conditions.”