ICC Rates Border-Gavaskar Trophy Pitches: Perth, Adelaide, Gabba & MCG Earn ‘Very Good’ Ratings

The ICC has shared its pitch ratings for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and all the pitches used in the series have been rated as very good. The Perth Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Gabba, and MCG pitches all received the top rating of "very good," while the SCG was rated "satisfactory," the second-highest category.

In 2023, the ICC changed the rating system and made it simpler with only four categories: very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unfit. The surface which has an unsatisfactory or unfit rating gets demerit points. Peter Roach is Cricket Australia’s Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling, he appreciated the efforts of the support staff in the preparation of quality pitches for the BGT 2024-25 Test series.

“We are delighted by the quality of pitches produced for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and grateful for all the hard work of the curators and venues across the country. We encourage pitches that bring out the unique characteristics of that venue and this has long been a feature of Australian cricket. We strongly believe that this is one of the reasons that Test cricket is so popular in Australia. We don't look to prepare wickets that favor the home side or suit our situation in a series. What we seek is a good contest between bat and ball and pitches that are likely to produce a result," Roach said.

Roach Praises Curators Amid Weather Woes

In addition, Roach also discussed the part that weather plays in the preparation of the pitch. He pointed out that in the BGT series, factors such as rain were a problem for the managers as they made creating quality wickets difficult. This situation affected their work and also increased the stress of ensuring that good playing surfaces were provided.

“Weather obviously plays a significant part in preparation and we know that even our most skilled curators are challenged at times by adverse weather. The SCG has been striving to bring out its unique characteristics of early pace and bounce before the pitch wears and spins. This year was a step in the right direction to achieving this which provided an exciting finish to the Border Gavaskar Trophy series and bodes well for the Ashes summer in 2025-26," Roach added.

“The series also emphasized the benefits of playing first-class cricket at major venues. It allows our curators to become more familiar with the different challenges that go into preparing wickets in different weather conditions, and also allows players to enter the Test team familiar with the conditions they will confront," Roach concluded.

ICC Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Pitch Ratings