AUS vs SA: ICC rates The Gabba pitch as 'below average'

The first Test match between Australia and South Africa played at The Gabba could only last two days out of the five reserved for the game. If not for Travis Head's counter-attacking innings of 92 off 96 deliveries, the game could have wrapped up inside four to five sessions. 

Many former and current players have shared their pieces of mind about the conditions offered at the Gabba last week.

The Proteas skipper Dean Elgar went on to say that pitches like these are disgraceful to Test Cricket. 

"If you were a bowler, you were licking your lips. It was challenging for the batters, no doubt, which is okay if there's a good contest between bat and ball. On the flip side, I don't see it as a fair contest," Elgar said post the Gabba Test.

International Cricket Council, who has the final say in rating pitches, has rated the conditions offered in the first Test between Australia and South Africa as 'below average' for not having an 'even contest' between bat and ball. 

ICC's Elite Panel of Match Referees member Richie Richardson has released his report for the Gabba Test and said:

"Overall, the Gabba pitch for this Test match was too much in favour of the bowlers. There was extra bounce and occasional excessive seam movement. The odd delivery also kept low on the second day, making it very difficult for batters to build partnerships," Richardson cited.

As per the ICC, The Gabba has received one demerit point for the recently concluded match. Earlier in the month, the same happened with the Rawalpindi venue for the first Test played between Pakistan and England, but that venue received two demerit points.

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