Australian team’s fortress, the Gabba pitch has been rated as “below average” by International Cricket Council (ICC) as 34 wickets tumbled in two days. Pat Cummins-led Australia beat Dean Elgar’s South Africa by six wickets. Even in a small run chase of 34, Australia lost four of their batters as Kagiso Rabada ran riot with the new ball on as green surface as any.
ICC match referee Richie Richardson said: "Overall, the Gabba pitch for this Test match was too much in favour of the bowlers. There was extra bounce and occasional excessive seam movement.
"The odd delivery also kept low on the second day, making it very difficult for batters to build partnerships. I found the pitch to be 'below average' as per the ICC guidelines since it was not an even contest between bat and ball."
Richardson’s report has been forwarded to Cricket Australia as well in which the Gabba pitch has earned one demerit point.
Elgar was critical of the pitch after registering a single-digit score and a duck in first and second innings respectively.
“Another 60 runs and we would have been in the game. Still trying to wrap my head around what's happened. Pretty spicy wicket, bowlers were licking their lips. Challenging for the batters which is okay, but on the flipside I don't see this as a fair contest,” the Proteas skipper said in the post-match presentation.
“In fairness, I don't think we could prepare any better. Conditions weren't in favour for the batters, the partnership between Smith and Head made the difference. We've got an unplanned extra three days, that's good. When you've got two quality bowling attacks, people want to watch that but they want to watch it for all five days,” the 35-year-old added.
After a comprehensive loss in the first Test, the two big teams will lock horns in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The second Test will be crucial for South Africa as they need to win three of next four Tests to solidify their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final.
