Board makes new points for pitches

Cold numbers will reflect the quality of wickets in domestic cricket from now on. The technical committee has replaced the current grading system which rates wickets broadly in three categories — poor, average and good. Points for pitches will be allocated by match officials. Subhash Rajta reports.

Cold numbers will reflect the quality of wickets in domestic cricket from now on. The technical committee has replaced the current grading system which rates wickets broadly in three categories — poor, average and good. Points for pitches will be allocated by match officials.

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“A clear-cut points system will help put in place a reward and penalty system. The association with points below a certain level could be warned or penalised, and those with highest points would be rewarded,” said a source. “While aspects like outfield, sightscreen etc will be graded on completion of a match, the pitch will be allocated points daily.”

It has, however, not yet been decided if wickets will be adjudged on the average points it garners by the end of the season, or on a match-to-match basis. Logic suggests the former as this will deter the preparation of ‘tailormade’ wickets for some crucial matches while compensating in others.