NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) -- cricket's global governing body on Friday rated the pitch at Holkar Stadium in Indore as 'poor'. The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played in Indore finished in two days and a session on a rank turner.
The ICC match referee Chris Broad submitted his report after consultations with the captains of the two teams Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith.
The stadium also received three demerit points and the Indian cricket board -- BCCI -- now has 14 days if they wish to appeal against the sanction.
A venue that accumulates five demerit points over a five-year period is suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months.
“The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start," said match referee Broad.
"The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match,” he added.
Day 1 of the Indore Test saw fall of 14 wickets while on the second day 16 batters walked back to the pavilion.
Australia registered a resounding nine-wicket win over India in the Test after bundling out hosts for 109 and 163 in the two innings.
The Aussies themselves scored 197 runs in their first innings but successfully chased a mere 76-run target in their second essay in the morning session on the third day.
The result helped Australia seal a place in the World Test Championship final in June.
India lead the series 2-1 with the fourth and final Test to be played in Ahmedabad from Thursday.
