The ICC has rated the surface used for the second Test match between India and South Africa as "unsatisfactory" after the contest finished in less than two days, making it the shortest Test match ever. India lost three wickets in their last chase of 79, while South Africa was bowled out twice in a total of just 107 overs bowled overall with 33 wickets falling. Match referee Chris Broad voiced concerns about the condition of the Newlands wicket, leading to the judgment made under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.
"The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce," Broad said. The pitching and outfield conditions are closely observed by the ICC. If the match referee finds that a pitch is not up to par, a stringent system is applied and the pitch loses demerit points. One demerit point is awarded for an inadequate pitch or outfield play. This demerit system has a lot of weight because six points will prevent a team from hosting international matches for a full year. When the points total twelve, this ban doubles to two years. It's crucial to remember that these points have a limited shelf life; venues can redeem them before they expire after five years.
The Test folded early during the second session on Day 2, which was an unexpected turn of events. South Africa was bowled out for 55, their lowest Test total since readmission and against India, when acting skipper Dean Elgar won the toss and decided to bat under bright conditions. Mohammed Siraj claimed a career-high 6/15. India's response was an equally wild journey, conceding six wickets for zero runs and going from 153/4 to 153 all out while maintaining a 98-run advantage.
Many former cricket players, notably Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, criticized the pitch, labelling it as "dangerous" for batting. During India's second innings, Rohit was hit when a ball appeared out of nowhere and started to explode. Though an obviously upset Rohit expressed his agony, he didn't really get into the Newlands pitch until the press conference following the game. The captain of India acknowledged that it was difficult, but he also emphasized that people should "keep their mouths shut" regarding the pitches used for Test matches back home in India, even though the team has no trouble batting on them.
