ICC committee concerned over quality of Test match pitches

The cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday expressed concern over the quality of pitches prepared for Test matches, which normally favour the home team.

The Anil Kumble-led committee also discussed the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) which still remains a headache for the ICC, considering the stiff opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"The committee also expressed concern about the quality of Test pitches, and, in particular, the common practice of home countries overtly preparing surfaces to suit their own teams," an ICC release said.

"The committee received a presentation from MIT engineers on their testing of the current technologies used in the DRS. It said it will release a detailed report on the subject, including recommended changes to the system, over the coming weeks," it added.

Meanwhile, in what comes as a boost to women's cricket, the ICC said the 2016 Women's World T20, which was being parallelly held with the men's edition, attracted 24.5 million viewers in India alone with an average audience of 100,000 in the United States region.

"The committee received a report from Clare Connor, the Chair of the ICC Women's Committee, on the impact of the recent ICC Women's World Twenty20 in India, which showed the women's event received greater exposure than ever before and attracted 24.5 million TV viewers in India alone, as well as generating an average audience of 100,000 in the US on Willow TV," the release said.

Kumble said a wide range of issues were discussed in the meeting, including the structure of Test cricket which will be taken forward in the next executive in Edinburgh next month.

"We have had positive and constructive discussions across a wide range of different issues and I would like to thank all the members for their valuable contributions and input," he said.

"The main thing that came out of the meeting was regarding Test cricket. The new structure was discussed and everybody was positive and forthcoming in supporting that. The committee acknowledged the importance of efforts being made to promote and grow Test cricket, be it through the introduction of meaningful competition structures, better pitches or marketing.

"Our recommendations will now be taken forward to the next ICC Chief Executives' Committee and the ICC Board meeting in Edinburgh in July," the former India skipper added.

--IANS

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