ICC rates India vs England Test series pitches: Headingley earns 'Very Good' mark
The ICC has announced its verdict on the wickets prepared for the five-match Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. The India vs England Test series stood out as one of the most thrilling battles in the longer format in recent times. The outcome perfectly summed up the India tour of England, with the visitors leveling the series 2-2 after a hard-fought victory in the final Test at The Oval. Days after the series concluded, the ICC has released its ratings for the pitches used in the contest. Interestingly, only the Headingley surface, the venue for the first Test, earned the highest rating. Meanwhile, the council is yet to reveal its review of The Oval pitch.
ICC reviews the surfaces for the India vs England Test series, yet to reveal the rating for The Oval Test
The surfaces in England have toned down the spice a bit ever since Bazball took over. As seen in Zimbabwe's demolition at the hands of England in the one-off Test ahead of the India vs England series, the hosts appeared to favor batting-friendly pitches. Barring the surface for The Oval Test, the pitches at the other venues were noted to be flat and favorable to batters. Fortunately, none of the English surfaces were rated below the 'satisfactory' mark. However, only the Headingley pitch managed to earn the highest rating.
The ICC’s pitch-rating framework, previously consisting of six categories (Very Good, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor, and Unfit), was revised in 2023 to just four: Very Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, and Unfit. Meanwhile, three of the five pitches used in the India vs England series have fallen short of the ICC’s highest “Very Good” rating.
ICC's rating for the India vs England Test series pitches
- 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds - Pitch: Very Good, Outfield: Very Good
- 2nd Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham - Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Very Good
- 3rd Test at Lord’s, London - Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Very Good
- 4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester - Pitch: Satisfactory, Outfield: Very Good
The quality of English pitches became a talking point during the gripping five-match Test battle between England and India. The young Indian captain, Shubman Gill, lost the toss in all five Tests. However, the impact of the toss was felt most significantly in The Oval Test, where batting first in overcast conditions on a green surface put the visitors on the back foot.
At Headingley in the series opener, England chased down 373 in the final innings. The surface, which was noted to be aiding the batters right from the start, gradually slowed and became even easier for batting, perfectly suiting their aggressive “Bazball” approach. In the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, India took the honors, with Shubman Gill headlining the contest by scoring a double ton and a century in both innings. The visitors won the Edgbaston Test by 336 runs as Gill and Co. claimed India's first-ever Test victory in Birmingham.
Interestingly, the third Test at the 'Home of Cricket' was the first instance in the series where the pitch hosted a relatively even battle. The Lord's Test turned into a nail-biting contest, with the cricket score reflecting a perfect balance between batting and bowling credentials. Chasing 195, India fell just 22 runs short as Mohammed Siraj was dismissed in unfortunate fashion, while Ravindra Jadeja kept the fight alive with his tenacious half-century. However, despite the Lord's Test going down to the wire, the ICC rated the surface in the 'satisfactory' category.
India managed to draw the Manchester Test, keeping the series alive and avoiding a 3-1 scoreline in the fourth match. Shubman Gill struck his fourth century of the series, while Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar partnered in the final chase to force Bazball into a draw. The Old Trafford surface has also been rated 'satisfactory' by the apex council.
Meanwhile, The Oval’s rating for the fifth and final India vs England Test is still pending. The Oval sported a green wicket, a rare sight in the series, with overcast conditions adding further spice to the surface. The pitch played a crucial role in a fixture that went down to the final day. England remained on track to chase 374 after centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook in the final chase. But a blistering spell from Prasidh Krishna, backed by Mohammed Siraj, flipped the game in India’s favour on Day 5 of the contest.
