ICC rates Optus Stadium pitch ‘very good’ despite two-day finish

Perth’s fast and furious pitch for the first Ashes Test was given the best possible rating by the International Cricket Council, drawing more attention to England’s poor batting, allowing the game to be finished within two days.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle, the most senior umpire on the ICC panel, rated the pitch as “very good”; This is the highest accolade available under the global governing body’s pitch evaluation system.

ICC regulations state that a “very good” pitch can be characterized as having “good carry, limited seam movement and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing a balanced contest between batsmen and bowlers”.

Batsmen on both sides struggled to come to terms with the surface as 19 wickets fell on day one, but conditions eased significantly on day two. Travis Head’s match-winning century in the final session underlined this.

England’s second innings saw the tourists squander dominant position with a series of ill-advised deliveries, namely blasting balls to long-on outside off stump, and Madugalle’s assessment of the surface supports the conclusions of many commentators on the field.

“The match referee’s ‘very good’ rating vindicates our belief that Perth Stadium has produced a pitch that provides a fair balance between bat and ball,” CA’s chief cricket officer James Allsopp said. “The superb pace bowling from both sides and the frantic nature of the competition meant the match lasted just two days.

“This was disappointing for fans who held tickets for day three and four, but we saw some incredible moments that captivated huge audiences and will inspire more kids to pick up bat and ball this summer.

“As always, we want to ensure that courses in Australia have their own merits and we look forward to another fascinating contest under the lights at the Gabba next Thursday.”