The pitch at Perth Stadium, which hosted the first Ashes Test, received a “very good” rating from the ICC on Thursday. According to the ICC’s 4 tier rating system, “very good” is the highest designation. It describes a pitch that offers “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match.” The ICC said this allowed for “a balanced contest between batters and bowlers.”
ICC gives good ratings to Perth Ashes Pitch
Australia took a 1-0 lead in the 5 match series with an 8-wicket victory in a fast-paced Test. They saw 19 wickets fall on the first day. England bowled out for 172, with Mitchell Starc taking 7 for 58, and Australia stumbled to 121 for 9 by the end of the day. On day two, more wickets fell as England was dismissed for 164. Travis Head’s impressive 123 runs off 83 balls led Australia to victory.
Cricket Australia’s Reaction
“The match referee’s ‘very good’ rating confirms our belief that Perth Stadium produced a great pitch. “The impressive pace bowling from both teams and the fast pace of the game resulted in the match lasting only two days.
“This was disappointing for fans with tickets for days three and four. But we witnessed some amazing moments that captured large audiences and will encourage more kids to pick up a bat and ball this summer,” he added.
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