The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Tuesday that the surface in Cape Town, where India defeated South Africa in five sessions of a Test match last week, has been classified “unsatisfactory” and has accrued one demerit point.
The Newlands match took place over 642 balls, and India won the shortest test ever to have a winner, surpassing Australia’s 1932 656-ball triumph against South Africa. This victory even the series.
Playing in their last match, South Africa captain Dean Elgar and his Indian rival Rohit Sharma both thought the surface was subpar, and many would argue the venue got away with a very minimal penalty.
According to an ICC release, match referee Chris Broad noted, “The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on.”
Throughout the game, the ball bounced swiftly and sometimes frighteningly, making it difficult to perform shots.
“Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce.”
After choosing to bat, South Africa was bowled out for 55 in their first over, as neither team deployed any spinners.
Cricket South Africa, the hosts, has fourteen days to contest the punishment.
As per the ICC regulations, a venue that receives a “unsatisfactory” rating will lose one demerit point, but if it is deemed “unfit” based on the governing body’s pitch and outfield monitoring procedures, it would lose three points.
For a rolling five-year period, these points will be valid.
A venue loses its ability to hold any international cricket matches for a year if it receives six demerit points during that time.