The pitch prepared for the second Test between India and South Africa at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens has received a 'Satisfactory' rating from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The verdict was delivered by match referee Richie Richardson, despite the match concluding inside three days with South Africa securing a historic victory.
A Quick Finish and a Historic Win
The Test match, which saw South Africa triumph by 30 runs, wrapped up rapidly. The visitors were bowled out for scores of 159 and 153, while India managed 189 and 93 in their two innings. This result marked South Africa's first Test win on Indian soil in 15 years, ending a long drought. The swift conclusion drew immediate attention to the nature of the playing surface, widely described as a turner.
Contrasting Views from the Indian Camp
Interestingly, the pitch assessment sparked contrasting opinions within the Indian team management. Head coach Gautam Gambhir staunchly defended the Eden Gardens track in the aftermath of the defeat. He argued that the surface was not a 'demon' or unplayable wicket.
"This was not a typical turning track. Majority of the wickets were claimed by the seamers," Gambhir stated. He emphasized that the pitch tested technique and mental toughness, suggesting that poor batting, not the pitch, was to blame for the low scores.
However, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak offered a subtly different perspective ahead of the next Test. He indicated that the pitch deteriorated faster than anticipated, crumbling and kicking up dust from day one. "That was not expected. Even if the spin was expected, it was after 3 days or on the third day in the evening," Kotak revealed, adding that neither the team nor the curators desired such rapid turn.
Global Context of Pitch Ratings
The 'Satisfactory' rating for Eden Gardens arrives in close proximity to another high-profile pitch evaluation. The pitch for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between Australia and England was rated as 'Unsatisfactory' by ICC referee Jeff Crowe. That Ashes contest ended in just two days, with England winning their first Test in Australia in 15 years.
The ICC's rating for the Kolkata pitch suggests that while the match finished early, the surface did not breach the governing body's standards for Test cricket, maintaining a balance between bat and ball that was deemed acceptable, albeit challenging.
The debate highlights the perennial discussion around pitch preparation in Test cricket, where the line between a challenging sporting wicket and an excessively difficult one remains finely balanced and often subjective.
