ICC's guidelines for rating Test match pitches

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With the nature of Test match pitches being a subject of continuous debate, it is important to know the guidelines under which an ICC match referee rates a pitch. The latest pitch to be rated 'Poor' has been the one at the MCA stadium, Pune - used for the first Test between India and Australia. Since October 2010, a match referee has to answer various questions in his match report. These include questions such as

a. 'Did the pitch appear completely dry at the commencement of the match ?'

b. 'From examining pitch core, was there moisture below the surface ?'

c. Assess the amount of turn, bounce, seam, consistency of bounce on the pitch on various days.

The match referee will answer these questions and give his rating on the pitch based on the guidelines specified below. The guidelines vary for different formats.

Test matches

GUIDANCE FOR RATING PITCHES

Categories and Criteria

ICC acknowledges the skills and complexities involved in the preparation of pitches. It is understood that conditions may vary considerably from country to country, venue to venue and even from match to match depending on prevailing weather conditions and that this will have an impact on the nature of pitches produced. ICC recognises these variations as part of the unique nature of the sport .

TEST MATCH PITCHES

ALL PITCHES WILL BE JUDGED SOLELY ON HOW THEY PLAY. THE OBJECTIVE SHALL BE TO PROVIDE A BALANCED CONTEST BETWEEN BAT AND BALL OVER THE COURSE OF THE MATCH, ALLOWING ALL THE INDIVIDUAL SKILLS OF THE GAME TO BE DEMONSTRATED BY THE PLAYERS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE MATCH.

Very Good

Good carry, limited seam movement and consistent bounce throughout, little or no turn on the first two days but natural wear sufficient to be responsive to spin later in the game.

Good

Average carry, limited seam movement, consistent bounce throughout, natural wear sufficient to be responsive to spin later in the game, though not quite meeting the criteria for carry and bounce for a "very good" pitch.

Above Average

Lacks carry, and/or bounce and/or occasional seam movement, but consistent in carry and bounce. A degree of turn, but with average bounce for the spinner. Falling significantly short of "very good" with respect to carry, bounce and turn.

Below Average

Either very little carry and/or bounce and/or more than occasional seam movement, or occasional variable (but not excessive or dangerous) bounce and/or occasional variable carry. If a pitch demonstrates these features, then the pitch can not be rated in a higher category regardless of the amount of turn the pitch displays at any stage of the match.

Poor

If any of the following criteria apply, a pitch may be rated "poor":

a. The pitch offers excessive seam movement at any stage of the match

b. The pitch displays excessive unevenness of bounce for any bowler at any stage of the match

c. The pitch offers excessive assistance to spin bowlers, especially early in the match

d. The pitch displays little or no seam movement or turn at any stage in the match together with no significant bounce or carry, thereby depriving the bowlers of a fair contest between bat and ball.

Unfit

A pitch may be rated "unfit" if it is dangerous.

Clarifications

a. Excessive means "too much".

b. It is recognised that a limited amount of seam movement is acceptable early in the match and that a pitch may develop some unevenness of bounce for seam bowlers as the match progresses. This is acceptable, but should not develop to a point where they would be described as "excessive".

c. There is nothing wrong with a pitch that affords some degree of turn on the first day of a match though anything more than occasional unevenness of bounce at this stage of the match is not acceptable. It is to be expected that a pitch will turn steadily more as a match progresses, and it is recognised that a greater degree of unevenness of bounce may develop.

d. It is impossible to quantify the amount that a ball is "allowed" to turn as bowlers will turn the ball differing amounts. The type and identity of bowler shall be taken into account when assessing this factor.

e. In no circumstances should the pitch "explode".