The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the official pitch ratings for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, which took place from June 1 to June 29 across the West Indies and the United States. The evaluation, which has been eagerly anticipated by cricket fans and professionals alike, offers a comprehensive look at the playing conditions throughout the tournament.
Out of all the pitches assessed, 31 received a 'satisfactory' rating, indicating that they met the basic standards for international cricket. However, the match referees awarded a 'very good' rating to 18 pitches, recognizing them as providing an excellent balance between bat and ball. Unfortunately, not all pitches lived up to expectations, as three were deemed 'unsatisfactory,' sparking controversy and concern.
One of the most talked-about pitches was at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, used during the first semifinal between South Africa and Afghanistan on June 26. This pitch was among the three rated 'unsatisfactory.' The surface became the centre of a heated debate after Afghanistan was skittled out for just 56 runs in 11.5 overs, with South Africa comfortably chasing down the target with nine wickets in hand. The Afghan batters struggled to cope with the unpredictable nature of the pitch, which offered excessive assistance to the bowlers, particularly South Africa's Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi, who took three wickets each. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje also contributed with two wickets apiece. The curator later admitted that the pitch was not adequately prepared, which led to the subpar performance.
Pitch Ratings at the 2024 T20 World Cup :
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) August 20, 2024
SA vs SL - Unsatisfactory
IND vs IRE - Unsatisfactory
IND vs PAK - Satisfactory
AFG vs SA Semi Final - Unsatisfactory
IND vs ENG Semi Final - Satisfactory
IND vs SA Final - Very good#T20WorldCup #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/k4qvJ8bcxd
The ICC also identified two other pitches as 'unsatisfactory' during the group stages of the tournament. These were used for match number 4 between Sri Lanka and South Africa, and match number 8 between India and Ireland, both held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
In the encounter between Sri Lanka and South Africa, the pitch's sluggish nature made scoring extremely difficult. Sri Lanka, batting first after winning the toss, managed only 77 runs in 19.1 overs. South Africa, too, found it hard to chase down the modest target, eventually winning by six wickets in 16.2 overs. Anrich Nortje was the standout performer with the ball, claiming four wickets for just seven runs. Quinton de Kock was the top scorer for South Africa with 20 runs, but even he struggled to find fluency on the challenging surface.
Describe India's #T20WorldCup trophy support in one word ? pic.twitter.com/Bf9GkHyAjp
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 5, 2024
Similarly, the India vs Ireland match turned into a low-scoring affair, dominated by bowlers due to the pitch's inconsistent bounce. Ireland was bowled out for 96 runs in 16 overs, with Hardik Pandya starring with figures of 3-27. In response, Indian captain Rohit Sharma scored 52 off 37 balls but was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the arm by a delivery that reared up unexpectedly.
The ICC's pitch ratings for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup highlight the varied playing conditions encountered during the tournament. While the majority of the pitches provided a fair contest between bat and ball, the few 'unsatisfactory' surfaces have raised questions about preparation and pitch management in international cricket.
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