Eden Gardens pitch for India-South Africa Test deemed 'satisfactory'

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday deemed the Eden Gardens' pitch, used for the first Test between India and South Africa, as satisfactory, international media reported on Tuesday.

According to a report, the rating was given by ICC match referee Richie Richardson, meaning that the venue avoids any sanction.

The surface came under the spotlight due to its uneven bounce during the aforementioned fixture, which culminated in less than three days as South Africa edged past India by 30 runs.

For the unversed, the pitch came under widespread censure throughout the fixture and its aftermath, with India head coach Gautam Gambhir claiming that it was "exactly the pitch we were looking for" at the post-match press conference.

However, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak contradicted Gambhir ahead of the second Test and instead argued that the latter took the blame instead of the curators.

"When Gautam came for the press conference after the match and took all the blame on himself -- he said we had asked for [that pitch] -- he did that because he felt the curators shouldn't be blamed," Kotak said.

"Every country plays to their strengths. In India that is spin. Ever since I've come in, every time, we have the same conversation, that the Test match should go on for four days, four-and-a-half days. All we want is a bit of spin [in the pitch], because spin is our strength," he added.

For the unversed, ICC rates pitches on a scale of very good to unfit: very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unfit.

For an unsatisfactory rating, a venue is awarded one demerit point and three for an unfit rating. If a venue receives five demerit points in a five-year period, it will be barred from hosting international cricket for 12 months.