The Eden Gardens pitch dodges off any sanction after the International Cricket Council rated the pitch as "satisfactory." The Eden Gardens pitch had stirred huge controversy during the first Test between India and South Africa. Notably, the match ended in two and a half day, with the pitch coming under scrutiny.

After a month, ICC match referee Richie Richardson rated the pitch as satisfactory, which means the pitch ranks second in the system. Notably, there are four slots- very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unfit. 

As of ICC, Eden Gardens pitch featured uneven bounce throughout the Test and had a sharp turn. The pitch seemingly helped both seamers and spinners. Well, South African  offspinner Simon Harmer and left-arm quick Marco Jansen made good use of it, while Jasprit Bumrah from India got a fifer. None of the teams surpassed 200, with Temba Bavuma, the Protea captain, scoring the highest run- 55*.

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Meanwhile, ICC rated the pitch at Melbourne Cricket Ground as "unsatisfactory" for the last Boxing Day Test, which is the fourth Test in the ongoing Ashes. Notably, it was England's win in Australia after years. But what was remarkable about this was that this was the first time in the 129 series that at least two Tests in a series completed so quickly.

Match referee Jeff Crowe rated the pitch "unsatisfactory," saying that, the batters did not get equal chances as the bowlers. It said that the pitch was "favouring the bowlers too much, with too many wicket-taking opportunities for either seam or spin."

Notably, MCG had had the highest rating for the last three Boxing Day Test, and it seems like a real downfall, not just in terms of rating, but a two-day finish had made Cricket Australia a financial loss. CA was already dealing with a loss of AUD 10 million from the first Test. 

Regarding the pitch Crowe said,

"The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was 'unsatisfactory' as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point."