India face ICC fine for poor Nagpur pitch for Test against South Africa
Tuesday 1 December 2015 14:51, UK
Indian cricket authorities could be fined up to £10,000 after the pitch for the third Test against South Africa was deemed poor by match referee Jeff Crowe, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.
India claimed a 124-run victory at Nagpur's VCA Stadium with 40 wickets tumbling in just three days as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
"Jeff Crowe submitted his report to the ICC, expressing the concerns of the match officials over the performance of the pitch," the ICC said in a statement.
The report has been forwarded to the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and it now has 14 days to respond.
India opener Murali Vijay posted the highest individual score in Nagpur with his first-innings knock of 40. South Africa were dismissed for 79 in their first innings and lost all 20 wickets in the match to spinners.
Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell called the pitch "diabolical", while South Africa skipper Hashim Amla described the track as the "toughest" he has faced in his Test career.
But South Africa assistant coach Adrian Birrell refused to blame the pitches for the team's series defeat.
"We're not complaining at all," Birell told reporters at Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium ahead of the fourth and final Test, which starts on Thursday.
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"We're playing in India and we're playing in Indian conditions. We relish the opportunity. Unfortunately, we've not played to our full potential."
