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He Indian tour of Australia 2024-25 concluded with the hosts emerging victorious, securing a dominant 3-1 victory in the test series. One of the matches in the series ended in a draw, adding an extra layer of excitement to the contest. After the series, Cricket Australia (CA) have revealed the ratings of the five venues that hosted the matches, according to the evaluation of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
ICC rates BGT 2024-25 venues: Sydney Cricket Ground under scrutiny
Venues that hosted the series received evaluations based on a rating system that categorizes them into four different groups: Very Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory and Unsuitable. The first four venues – Optus Stadium in Perth, Adelaide Oval, The Gabba in Brisbane and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – earned the highest rating of “Very Good”. This recognition highlights the quality of these grounds in hosting world-class cricket and providing players with excellent playing conditions.
Although the final test of the series was carried out in the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)the venue received a “Satisfactory” rating from the ICC. The pitch, in particular, came under intense scrutiny from both current players and cricket analysts. The surface has faced criticism for not meeting the standards expected for a Test match, with concerns over its tendency to break down and create challenges for batsmen.
Sunil Gavaskar criticizes SCG tone
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had criticized the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch, stating that it is not ideal for a Test match as it would have to last until the fourth and fifth day. He pointed out that if 15 wickets had fallen in a day in India, there would have been widespread complaints. He also mentioned the Australian cricket legend. Glenn McGrathabout the excess grass on the pitch, questioning whether any former Indian cricketers had complained about it.
“This is not the ideal test launch that you want because you want it to get to the fourth and fifth day. If 15 wickets fell (in a day) in India, all hell would have broken loose. Glenn McGrath said he had never seen so much grass. Did you hear any former Indian cricketers complain about the pitch? Gavaskar commented during the series..
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Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith’s views on the SCG launch
Australia opener Usman Khawaja criticized the pitch, calling it “stinking” and noting that it was not a typical SCG ground. He mentioned the presence of cracks that made hitting difficult. Despite the tough conditions, Australia won, but Khawaja emphasized the challenge of playing on such terrain.
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to talk about it too much beforehand, but the wicket stunk. It wasn’t like a traditional SCG ground with new grass, there are cracks everywhere, it’s been difficult to bat, the scoreboard will tell you that. Luckily we were on the right side of victory, but when it comes to terrain like that, you’re always on a knife’s edge.”Khawaja said in the interview with ABC Radio.
Steve Smith He criticized the pitch, describing it as “two-paced, up and down, seam and swing,” which made it incredibly difficult to hit. He also noted that he had never come across such a wicket before at the SCG.
“For a mile. It was two steps, up and down, moving all around, swaying. I have never played on a wicket like that at the SCG before. It was incredibly difficultt,” Smith said in a media interaction.
Cricket Australia defends the SCG Pitch
Meanwhile, CA responded to criticism of the SCG pitch by defending it, highlighting that the pitch is intended to show early pace and bounce before it deteriorates and spins. They noted that this year’s launch was a step forward, contributing to an exciting conclusion to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and offering positive prospects for the 2025-26 Ashes Series.
“The SCG has gone out of its way to highlight its unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch wears out and turns. This year was a step in the right direction to achieve that, providing an exciting end to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and boding well for the Ashes summer of 2025-26.” Cricket Australia stated.
