The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the pitches used during recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. ICC restructured their pitch rating system which was introduced in 2023 reducing its categories to four: Very Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, and Unfit.
The highest rating, "Very Good," was rated to Perth's Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Brisbane's Gabba, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) received a "Satisfactory" rating, which is the second-best category.
From Perth to Sydney, ICC's Pitch Ratings for the Border-Gavaskar series are in!#AUSvIND | #WTC25 | Details
— ICC (@ICC) January 8, 2025
Cricket Australia’s Head of Operations and Scheduling, Peter Roach, welcomed the ICC's assessments and highlighted Australia’s commitment to preparing pitches that reflect the unique characteristics of each venue.
He emphasized that their focus is on creating a fair contest between bat and ball, rather than favoring the home team, which helps maintain the popularity of Test cricket in Australia.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy Results
The five-match Test series saw Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade with a commanding 3-1 victory over India. India, led by Jasprit Bumrah, started strong with a historic 295-run win at Perth. However, Australia leveled the series with a win in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.
The third Test in Brisbane ended in a rain-affected draw, setting the stage for Australia's dominance in the final two matches. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the final Test at Sydney saw Australia clinch decisive victories, securing their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's alongside South Africa.