close
Friday July 26, 2024

How was Ahmedabad’s pitch for World Cup final?

Decision was based on the recommendation of the ICC's pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson

By Sports Desk
December 08, 2023
Dancers perform during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final match between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. — AFP
Dancers perform during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final match between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. — AFP

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the pitch that was used at Ahmedabad for the World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia was "average".

The ICC updated its list of pitch and outfield ratings where surfaces for as many as eight World Cup matches across five Indian venues received an overall average rating, including five games involving hosts India.

The World Cup final on November 19 took place on the same pitch that hosted the India-Pakistan fixture five weeks earlier.

This decision was based on the recommendation of the ICC's pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson.

The track received an average rating for both games. Additionally, the surface at Eden Gardens used for the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa was also rated as average. Eden Gardens received the most average ratings, totalling five.

The surface for the first semi-final between India and New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium received a rating of "good".

Despite concerns about the pitch being changed from a fresh surface to a used track before the match, the fears of it being slow did not materialise. The teams scored a total of 724 runs, including three centuries across both innings, with only one wicket falling to spin.

The ICC rates pitches and outfields for all international games using six ratings: very good, good, average, below average, poor, and unfit.