Mirpur surface earns ‘unsatisfactory’ rating from Apex Cricket Council
On Tuesday, the Apex Cricket Council (ACC) declared that the pitch at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, used for the second Test of the ACC World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and New Zealand, has been deemed “unsatisfactory” according to the ACC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
ACC Match Referee David Boon has submitted a report to the ACC outlining the concerns raised by match officials and discussions with both teams’ captains. As a result of the assessment, the venue has incurred one demerit point. The report has been transmitted to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), providing them with a 14-day window to consider an appeal against the sanction if they choose to do so.
“The outfield was very good and held up extremely well with the rain. However, it appeared that the pitch may have been under-prepared, as it was not hard and was covered in grass clippings on day one. From the first session onwards, throughout the remainder of the match, the bounce was inconsistent with numerous balls bursting the surface. Deliveries from spin bowlers often went over the batter’s shoulder when playing forward and then occasionally stayed very low,” Boon said.
It’s probably the worst wicket I’ve come across in my career: Tim Southee
New Zealand levelled the ongoing series 1-1 by defeating Bangladesh in a low-scoring second Test match. After losing the initial encounter, the Blackcaps effectively restricted the hosts to modest totals in both innings and successfully chased down a target of 137 runs on the penultimate day. Batter Glenn Phillips showcased his skills in both innings, guiding New Zealand to victory in a swift chase on day four. Despite the triumph, captain Tim Southee voiced discontent with the pitch, deeming it the ‘worst wicket’ of his career due to its bowler-friendly nature, creating an imbalanced competition.
“There’s several ways I could describe that wicket. For the match to be over in 170 overs is a fair reflection of that wicket. It wasn’t great. It certainly wasn’t an even battle between bat and ball. It’s probably the worst wicket I’ve come across in my career. As I said, the balance between bat and ball was heavily favoured in the bowlers’ hands. For the match to be over in 170 overs reflects that. For our guys to scrap and come away with a win was very pleasing,” Southee said.
