TL;DR
- Perth pitch rated 'very good' by ICC, highest possible score.
- The Ashes Test match in Perth was one of the shortest ever played.
- ICC rating validates Cricket Australia's belief in the Perth Stadium pitch.
- Pace bowling and frenetic contest contributed to the match's short duration.
It may have been the shortest Ashes Test match in 137 years.
Notwithstanding significant disapproval from certain parties, the highly discussed Perth pitch has received endorsement from The International Cricket Council (ICC).
The pitch at Perth Stadium has received an official rating of ‘very good,’ which is the highest possible score according to the ICC’s four-tier rating system.
After the ICC's announcement, CA Chief of Cricket James Allsopp stated that the rating validated Cricket Australia's conviction that the Perth Stadium pitch offered a suitable equilibrium between batting and bowling.
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“The dominance of some brilliant pace bowling from both sides and the frenetic nature of the contest meant the match lasted only two days,” Allsopp said.
Fans who had tickets for days three and four experienced disappointment, yet we witnessed some remarkable events that enthralled vast television audiences.
“As always, we want to ensure pitches across Australia have their own characteristics and we’re looking forward to another enthralling contest under lights at the Gabba.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) assigns ratings to cricket pitches based on their performance.
After each Test match, the ICC gets a performance rating for the pitch and outfield from its designated Match Referee; Ranjan Madugalle, a former Sri Lankan international, served in this capacity for Perth.
Pitches that offer substantial carry, minimal seam movement, and predictable bounce at the outset of a game are highly praised, fostering a fair competition between batsmen and bowlers.
With 32 wickets falling in less than two days, the First Test in Perth lasted just 847 deliveries.
According to cricket.com.au this makes it the second shortest Test match ever played on Australian soil.
Australia's victory over South Africa by an innings and 72 runs at the MCG in 1932 concluded after only 656 balls.