Photo Caption: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
By: Staff Writer
The Antigua Pitch that was used for the second Test between England and the West Indies, has been rated below average.
An ICC Media release stated:
Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees has rated the Antigua pitch used for the second Test between the Windies and England as “below average” and the venue has received one demerit point according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
The release further stated:
Mr. Crowe cited the uneven bounce at the southern main pavilion end as the reason for the rating in his report, which has been forwarded to Cricket West Indies.
As a result of the revised ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, that was introduced on 4 January 2018, the Antigua Venue has received one demerit point.
This is due to the pitch being rated by the match referees as below average. In the event pitches are marked poor and unfit, three and five demerit points will be awarded to venues.
The release also mentioned: No demerit point will be awarded when the outfield is rated as below average, but two and five demerit points will be awarded to venues whose outfields are marked as poor and unfit, respectively.
Demerit points will remain active for a rolling five-year period.
When a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points.
