IND vs AUS: ICC rates Indore Test pitch as ‘poor’; Holkar Stadium handed three demerit points

Broad said, “The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start. The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has two weeks to appeal against the sanctions.

The pitch has come under immense scrutiny by many of the former players after India was bowled out for 109 on the morning of Day 1. While on commentary, former Aussie opener Matthew Hayden said, “It’s an absolute desert. It is so dry.”

He went on to add: “No way spinners should come to bowl in the sixth over. This is the reason I don’t like these kinds of surfaces. It shouldn’t be keeping this low and turning so much on Day 1. It doesn’t matter whether Australia wins this Test or India. These kinds of surfaces are not good for Test cricket.”

The most stinging criticism came from former Australian Test quick Michael Kasprowicz who told SEN Cricket, “What’s more, none of the 14 wickets fell to pace. Fans saw the full extent of the pitch when Nathan Lyon bowled Cheteshwar Pujara off a delivery that turned unimaginably and kept low to hit the right-hander’s leg stump. Just 50 balls had been bowled before Lyon’s peach.”

“It’s a shocker, this wicket is an absolute tip. There’s no way for Test cricket before lunch on Day 1 for a pitch to be playing this many tricks. It throws everyone out. It’s interesting to watch and it’s great watching them survive, (but) it’s not good. It’s not good cricket,” he further added.

Broad has also rated the Nagpur and Delhi strips as “average”. All three Test matches ended in three days. Despite the loss in the third Test, India lead the series 2-1.