Table of Contents

David Lloyd has questioned the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the governing council rated the Ahmedabad pitch for the 3rd Test as ‘average’. The ICC, on Sunday (March 14), rated the much-criticized pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium as ‘average’. Apart from David Lloyd, other former England cricketers including Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook had also criticized the wicket in Motera earlier during play on the 3rd Test.

The 3rd Test between India and England, which was played with the Pink Ball, was wrapped up inside two days as England suffered a crushing defeat by 10 wickets.

David Lloyd: Ahmedabad Pitch Used For 3rd Test Was A Disintegrated Surface From 1st Ball, So It Shouldn’t Have Been Rated Average

Meanwhile, the pitch at the SCG for the third Test between India and Australia was also rated average. On the other hand, the wicket used for the 4th Test between India and England, which was played at the same venue as the 3rd Test, was rated ‘Good’.

“One big question for @ICC. If that is an ‘average’ pitch is it ok for all pitches around the world to be just like that with a disintegrated surface from ball one? I don’t expect an answer, by the way,” David Lloyd wrote on Twitter.

Ahmedabad pitch for the Day-Night Test. Pic: Twitter

The England team management left it to the apex board ICC to decide on the quality of the Ahmedabad pitch while India skipper Virat Kohli blamed it on the failure of the batsmen as Indian batsmen also struggled against part-time spinner Joe Root who claimed 5 scalps to bowl out India for 145 in the 1st innings.

Under the new ICC rules, that came into effect in January 2018, an ‘average’ rating of a certain pitch entails no punishment, and in that sense, the Motera pitch will not be affected by any means. A rating of poor or unfit would have resulted in serious consequences. A below-average rating would have led to one Demerit Point.

The third Test, which was a day-nighter, ended within two days and had a dubious distinction of being one of the shortest games in Test history, leading to negative criticisms from former English players like David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, and Andrew Strauss.

England Bowled Out For Less Than 120 In Both Innings As The Test Was Shortest Completed Test Since World War II

England was bowled out for 112 and 81 in the Pink-ball Test as the match was completed in just a little over 5 sessions in Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad pitch was subject to intense scrutiny as former England cricketers, including Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook, lashed out at the playing conditions. However, India captain Virat Kohli and the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma defended the pitch.

Michael Vaughan (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

As many as 27 of the 30 wickets that fell went to spinners as the Pink-ball Test ended in less than 2 days, becoming the shortest completed Test since 1935(World War II). England was bundled out to less than 120 in both innings as India went on to clinch a 10-wicket win and seal a 2-1 lead in the 4-Test series at home.

India bounced back remarkably to win the four-match Test series 3-1 and qualify for the final of the World Test Championship, which will be played in Southampton in June. India will take on Kane Williamson-led New Zealand for the ICC event finale.

After losing the first Test, which went to the fifth day, India won the series 3-1 by winning the last 3 Tests.