ICC ranks 5 places in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25; SCG gets the lowest rating

The India tour for Australia 2024-25 has concluded with the hosts emerging victorious, securing a commanding 3-1 win in the Test series. One of the games in the series ended in a tie, which added an extra layer of excitement to the contest. After the series, Cricket Australia (CA) have revealed the ratings of the five venues that hosted the matches, according to the rating International Cricket Council (ICC).

ICC rates BGT 2024-25 venues: Sydney Cricket Ground under scrutiny

The venues that hosted the series received evaluations based on a rating system that classified them into four different groups: Very Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory and Unfit. The top four venues – Perth’s Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Brisbane’s The Gabba and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – all received the highest rating of ‘Very Good’. This recognition highlights the quality of these grounds in hosting world-class cricket and providing players with excellent playing conditions.

While the final test of the series was held in the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)the venue was rated “Satisfactory” by the ICC. The pitch, in particular, came under heavy scrutiny from both current players and cricket analysts. The surface has faced criticism for not meeting the standards expected for a Test match, with concerns about its tendency to crack and create challenges for batsmen.

Sunil Gavaskar criticizes SCG Pitch

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar he had criticized the Sydney Cricket Ground, stating that it is not ideal for a Test match as it should last on the fourth and fifth day. He pointed out that if 15 wickets had fallen in one day in India, there would have been widespread complaints. He also mentioned the Australian cricket legend Glen McGrathCommenting on the excess grass on the pitch, questioning whether any former Indian cricketers had complained.

“This is not the ideal Test match pitch you want because you want it to come in on a fourth and fifth day. If 15 wickets (in one day) fell in India, all hell would have broken loose. We had Glenn McGrath saying he had never seen so much grass. Have you ever heard a former Indian cricketer moan on the pitch? Gavaskar commented during the series.

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Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith seen on SCG Pitch

Australian Open Usman Khawaja criticized the pitch, calling it “a stinker” and noting it was not a typical SCG wicket. He mentioned the presence of cracks, which make baptism difficult. Despite the tough conditions, Australia won, but Khawaja emphasized the challenge of playing on this wicket.

“I won’t lie, I didn’t want to talk about it too much earlier, but the door stank. It wasn’t like a traditional SCG wicket with the new turf, there are cracks all over it, it was a tough batting, the scoreboard will tell you that. Fortunately, we were on the right side of victory, but when it comes to a wicket like this, you’re always up for it.”, Khawaja said in the interview on ABC Radio.

Steve Smith criticized the pitch, describing it as “two pace, up and down, seam and swing”, making it incredibly difficult to bat. He also noted that he had never come across such a wicket at the SCG before.

“By a mile It was a two-step, up and down, stitching all over the place, swaying. He had never played on a wicket like this at the SCG before. It was incredibly difficult to bat,” Smith said in a media interaction.

Cricket Australia defends SCG Pitch

Meanwhile, CA has responded to criticism of the SCG pitch by defending it, stressing that the ground is intended to show early pace and bounce before it deteriorates and turns. They noted that this year’s field was a step forward, contributing to an exciting conclusion to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and offering positive prospects for the 2025-26 Ashes Series.

“The SCG has strived to bring out its unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch wears and turns. This year was a step in the right direction to achieve that, bringing a thrilling end to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and boding well for the Ashes summer in 2025-26.,” Cricket Australia stated.

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