Key Principles of a Premier 2 day Cricket Pitch
1. Unique venue characteristics are to shine
2. It is expected that a pitch will be consistent in pace and bounce throughout the day, with some encouragement for spin bowlers as the day progresses
3. Balanced competition between bat and ball across the match
(e.g. pace/bounce and some seam movement early, spin later)
4. 10 for 300/day is ideal - 20 wickets in a match
Key Principles of a One-Day/T20 Pitch
1. The pitch is expected to provide the opportunity for positive batting, with batsmen able to play shots all around the wicket.
2. The pitch will provide little or no seam or spin.
3. The pitch will remain consistent throughout the day’s play
Note: *** If One -Day/T20 Pitch is played on a used pitch from the previous day then the pitch will show signs of some wear from the day prior and become slightly more encouraging to spin bowling. The pace and bounce throughout the day should remain consistent over both innings.
Rating |
Premier 2 day game (or multiple day match) |
One Day or T20 match |
Very Good
5
|
· A very good pitch will provide seam and spin bowlers an opportunity to demonstrate their skills during the match, and overall provide an even balance between bat and ball
· The contest needs to be entertaining for the spectators/players
· The pitch will provide good pace, carry and consistent bounce, with some natural deterioration as the day/game progresses
|
· A very good pitch will provide continual opportunities for batsman to score runs all around the wicket. It will have little or no seam movement or spin over the course of the match, and have good consistent pace and bounce.
· The contest needs to be entertaining for the spectators/players
· Pitch conditions will not change across the course of the match
|
Good
4
|
· A good pitch will provide seam and spin bowlers an opportunity to demonstrate their skills during the match and overall provide a relatively even balance between bat and ball
· The contest needs to be entertaining for the spectators/players
· The pitch will provide pace, carry and consistent bounce, with some deterioration on
later days, although not quite meet the definition of a “very good pitch”
|
· A good pitch will provide continual opportunities for batsman to score runs all around the wicket. It will have little or no seam movement or spin over the course of the match, and have good consistent pace and bounce, but not quite meet the definition of a “very good pitch”.
· The contest needs to be entertaining for the spectators/players
Pitch conditions will likely change very little across the course of the match
|
Average
3
|
· An average pitch will display characteristics that don’t provide an even contest between bat and ball which in turn reduces the entertainment factor for spectators/players
· The pitch lacks carry, and/or bounce, significantly falling short of the characteristics of a “good” pitch
· An average pitch will favour either the seam/spin bowler or the batsman, allowing one to dominate over the other over the course of the match
|
· An average pitch will display characteristics such as too much seam or spin at various stages of the match, reducing the entertainment factor for spectators/players
· The pitch may lack carry, and/or bounce, significantly falling short of the characteristics of a “good” pitch
· An average pitch may change characteristics over the course of the match, thereby favouring one team over the other
|
Below Average
2
|
· A below average pitch significantly favours either the bat or the ball to a point spectators/players will lose interest and disengage from the contest
· The pitch has very little carry and/or bounce and promotes dull and sometimes negative cricket
If a pitch demonstrates these features, then the pitch cannot be rated in a higher category
|
· A below average pitch significantly favours the bowlers to the point spectators/players will lose interest and disengage from the contest
· The pitch may lack carry and/or bounce and promotes dull and sometimes negative cricket
If a pitch demonstrates these features, then the pitch cannot be rated in a higher category
|
Poor
1
|
· If any of the following criteria apply, a pitch may be rated “poor”:
· The pitch displays excessive unevenness of bounce for any bowler at any stage of the match
· The pitch offers excessive assistance to spin bowlers, especially early in the match
· The pitch displays little or no seam movement or turn at any stage in the match together with no significant bounce or carry, thereby depriving the bowlers of a fair contest between bat and ball
The pitch offers excessive seam movement at any stage of the match
|
· If any of the following criteria apply, a pitch may be rated “poor”:
· The pitch displays excessive unevenness of bounce for any bowler at any stage of the match
· The pitch offers excessive assistance to bowlers
The pitch provides a considerable advantage to one team over the other due to the changing pitch characteristics across the day
|
Notes:
· Prevailing conditions, rain and temperature, should be considered in the overall rating. This should also include significant weather issues that affect the pitch preparation
· Consideration should be given to ratings in white ball matches where matches are scheduled at the same venue in a short space of time (e.g. 2 days for cricket in a row where it is assumed that wickets may suffer on later days). The key focus in these instances is that conditions are even for both teams across the match