RANCHI: Cricket's governing body is only weeks away from introducing a system that will "shame" curators who produce substandard wickets, as another pitch controversy brews in India.
But it may not come before the conclusion of Australia's current series on the subcontinent.
Kohli slams Smith's 'brain fade'
India captain Virat Kohli has all but accused Steve Smith of cheating over the Australian captain's use of the decision review system during the second Test in Bangalore.
In another blow for the reputation of India's curators, it can be revealed the strip used for the spiteful second Test was assessed as "below average" by the International Cricket Council. It comes on top of a "poor" rating for the raging turner produced in Pune.
ICC match referee Chris Broad may have let players from both sides get away scot free for their poor behaviour in Bangalore however he has been scathing of the wickets seen this series.
Sources have told Fairfax Media the wicket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium was given its below average rating due to its variable bounce.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, however, will escape sanction as boards are not required to give the ICC an explanation for below average pitches as they are for those deemed to be poor or unfit. The outfield was marked as "very good".
While not as difficult to bat on as Pune, the second Test strip offered inconsistent bounce throughout the match, with some deliveries shooting through very low.
India's pace duo Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, with their stump to stump line, proved a handful for Australia's batsmen as early as the second day.
Mystery surrounds how the pitch produced for the third Test will play. The Australian camp was stunned by the hard, dry and grassless surface unveiled on Tuesday.
The pitch was given a much-needed drink shortly before Australia trained. It's believed it was the first time it had been watered in three days.
The ICC only releases the ratings of pitches considered poor or unfit but is moving towards publishing the marks given for all wickets. The change could come into effect as early as a fortnight's time.
They have warned curators they will "shame" those who produce substandard surfaces under a new system designed to produce entertaining cricket. The initiative was agreed upon at a meeting of the ICC board in February.
"I think everybody accepts that if we want to have entertaining products, exciting matches, an attractive form of cricket, then the pitches need to be good and there needs to be a good balance between bat and ball, particularly in Test matches," ICC chief David Richardson said in February.
"For that reason, we have tried to focus on the member countries, or the venues that are producing these pitches for international cricket, (make them) more accountable, so in the future we will be incentivising them by saying: 'If you produce a good pitch, then go to the ICC website and you will see the result of the grade the match referee has given you and you will be rewarded in that way for producing good pitches. On the other hand, if you produce a below average or a poor, unfit pitch, then unfortunately you might be shamed'."