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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has deemed the Newlands pitch in Cape Town, South Africa, as ‘unsatisfactory’ following the conclusion of the second Test between India and South Africa. Despite India securing a seven-wicket victory within five sessions, the match marked the shortest completed Test in history with only 642 balls bowled.
Rohit Sharma’s critique
India’s win leveled the two-match series, but Captain Rohit Sharma expressed his reservations about the fairness of pitch assessments, targeting both experts and the ICC, particularly in the context of conditions in India compared to SENA countries.
Match referee’s Chris Broad assessment
The ICC, acknowledging the pitch issues at Newlands, has rated it ‘unsatisfactory’ after match referee Chris Broad submitted his report. The decision was reached through the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. Broad highlighted the challenges faced by batters due to the quick and unpredictable bounce on the pitch, leading to discomfort and awkward dismissals.
“The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce,” Broad said in a statement released by the ICC.
Demerit points and potential suspension
In accordance with ICC rules, the Newlands pitch accrues one demerit point for its ‘unsatisfactory’ rating. A venue faces suspension from hosting international cricket for a year if it accumulates six demerit points and a two-year suspension for 12 demerit points. The demerit points remain active for a rolling period of five years.
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CSA’s appeal window
Cricket South Africa (CSA), as the home board, has a 14-day window to appeal against the ICC’s rating. Meanwhile, netizens and cricket experts have expressed a diverse range of opinions, contributing to the ongoing discourse on pitch conditions and their impact on the game.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
1 Demerit Point to Newlands for the pitch that was prepared for the 2nd test between SA and India
5 Demerit points can lead to suspension
Probably lucky not to get more#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/q9vpGqHoo5
— Werner (@Werries_) January 9, 2024
The Newlands pitch has received an unsatisfactory rating and 1 demerit point for the 2nd #SAvIND Test
But this doesn’t excuse the poor shot selections from some of the players
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) January 9, 2024
The pitch used for the Second Test between SA and Ind at Newlands has been rated as unsatisfactory by the ICC. pic.twitter.com/U9NxfFCf8G
— Haris Arshad (@harris00071) January 9, 2024
India Defeated South Africa in Cape town on “unsatisfactory” pitch
ICC has rated the Newlands pitch for second Test between as “unsatisfactory” pic.twitter.com/VT6GgFwMSJ
— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) January 9, 2024
So Newlands pitch isn’t poor? 1 demerit point is below average. Poor 3 demerit points as just pointed out by @atreyom so a test match that ends in a day and a half not played on a poor pitch? Then what’s the definition of poor? @ICC Chris Broad? @RevSportz @CricSubhayan…
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 9, 2024
NEWLANDS PITCH RATED AS ‘UNSATISFACTORY’
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that the pitch for the second Test of the ICC World Test Championship series between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town has been rated as “unsatisfactory” under the ICC…
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) January 9, 2024
Lol so the BCCI can put out turners whenever they want but God-forbid something like Newlands happen TO the ICCs precious India. https://t.co/fzH83ojfSd
— Joshua Layfield (@jdontplayfield) January 9, 2024
Seems like the ICC has rated Newlands Capetown pitch as unsatisfactory. No wonder India won there.
— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6) January 9, 2024
Newlands Test pitch receives ‘unsatisfactory’ ratinghttps://t.co/2dve9ZOMi0 https://t.co/2dve9ZOMi0
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) January 9, 2024
ICC on Tuesday announced that the Newlands pitch used for the second test between India and South Africa in Cape Town has been rated as “unsatisfactory”#ICC pic.twitter.com/xlzgdqKooZ
— Debasis Sen (@debasissen) January 9, 2024
Beyond me how the Newlands pitch evaded a ‘poor’ rating. Very very very lucky to get away with only one demerit point, if you ask me. #CricketTwitter https://t.co/JKfS3B0nTZ
— Shayne Dias (@ShayneDias_) January 9, 2024
International Cricket Council announced that the pitch for the second Test of the series between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town has been rated as “unsatisfactory”. #INDvSA
ICC Match Referee Chris Broad submitted his report expressing the concerns of the match…— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) January 9, 2024
ICC rates the Newlands pitch ‘Unsatisfactory’ after the low-scoring ICC World Test Championship clash between South Africa and India.. CSA have 14 days to appeal against the decision. #CricketTwitter #SAvIND
— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) January 9, 2024
@icc The Newlands Test was the shortest Test ever . How van not be be the pitch rated Unfit.
Seems either you have separate parameters for rating pitches around the world .— Atul Kumar (@LearnerAtul) January 9, 2024
The #Newlands pitch for the second test between South Africa and India has been rated “unsatisfactory”.
The venue has received one demerit point.
When a venue accumulates six demerit points, it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.— Jon Gericke (@JonGericke) January 9, 2024
The idea that some depressing subcontinental dustbowl can ever be an acceptable pitch whilst a glorious Newlands lifter can be rated poor… it’s just rubbish.
It’s a TEST. I want to see batters showing courage and hopping around – a century should be a hard thing to achieve.— Jamie Fr0st (@ospriet) January 9, 2024
Cape Town pitch for the 2nd #SAvIND Test has received an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating.
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) January 9, 2024
