IND vs AUS: Sachin Tendulkar reacts to ICC's Perth pitch rating

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle gave the pitch at the new Optus Stadium in Perth an 'average' rating -- the lowest pass mark provided by cricket's world governing body

India icon Sachin Tendulkar is the latest to react to the rating given to Perth pitch where India and Australia played the second Test of the ongoing series.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle gave the pitch at the new Optus Stadium in Perth an 'average' rating -- the lowest pass mark provided by cricket's world governing body.

Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter, saying, “Pitches play a crucial role, especially in Test cricket. In order to revive Test cricket and generate excitement, we need to provide more pitches like the one at Perth, where the skills of batsmen and bowlers are truly TESTed. This pitch was by no means “Average”.

Pitches play a crucial role, especially in Test cricket. In order to revive Test cricket and generate excitement, we need to provide more pitches like the one at Perth, where the skills of batsmen and bowlers are truly TESTed. This pitch was by no means “Average”.

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 23, 2018

Earlier, Former cricketers Mitchell Johnson and Michael Vaughan took to Twitter to criticize the rating given by match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

Nothing wrong with it. It was exciting to watch a contest between bat and ball for a change and not these dull flat tracks being served up constantly. I’d actually be interested in knowing what a good pitch is? Hope for another exciting test at the MCG 🏏 https://t.co/Q1vOYm6AaB

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 21, 2018

And they wonder why Test Match cricket is struggling .. Was a tremendously exciting pitch which had a bit for everyone .. Should be more like this IMO .. https://t.co/c5jx99oQfO

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 21, 2018

The rating by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle could be related to the uneven bounce that resulted in a couple of nasty blows, according to a Cricket Australia (CA) statement.

The ICC introduced a disciplinary system at the start of the year in a bid to improve the standard of pitches around the world and can provide five ratings -- very good, good, average, below average and poor -- when rating Test venues.

Even the Indian tailenders seemed uncomfortable dealing with the short-pitched deliveries on the WACA pitch.