It may have encouraged one of the most enthralling contests on Australian soil in recent memory, but the Perth Stadium pitch used for the second Test between Australia and India has earned the ire of the ICC - and some big names aren’t happy.

Australia won the topsy-turvy, five-day affair by 146 runs as India’s tail crumbled in the opening session of the final day.

The match was an attritional one - every session saw countless shifts in momentum as both sides engaged in a serious power struggle on a green-tinged wicket that provided deadly bounce and, sometimes, no bounce at all.

There was something in it for both teams - Virat Kohli scored a masterful first-innings 123, off-spinner Nathan Lyon took eight wickets in a player-of-the-match performance, and the quicks on both sides kept the opposing batsmen on their toes.

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However, despite the entertaining match on a pitch full of personality, it was revealed on Friday that match referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the deck as ‘average’, which is the ICC’s lowest possible pass mark handed out after assessments of the pitch and the outfield.

As the news surfaced, Ashes-winning captain and Fox Cricket commentator Michael Vaughan criticised the rating.

"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,” Vaughan tweeted.

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





Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson went further, saying there was “nothing wrong” with the Perth pitch.

Johnson took 313 Test wickets for Australia, but retired after a bore draw at the WACA against New Zealand in 2015, at the time suggesting his exit was influenced by a greater number of flat pitches.

"It was exciting to watch a contest between bat and ball for a change and not these dull flat tracks being served up constantly,” Johnson also tweeted.

"I’d actually be interested in knowing what a good pitch is? Hope for another exciting Test at the MCG.”

Johnson then engaged in a Twitter spat with former Indian player and notable cricket media figure Aakash Chopra as the pair quarrelled over the characteristics of what makes a good Test match wicket.

Pretty shitty case if that what your coming with Aakash. You’re saying it was a dangerous delivery from a spinner? Did you pipe up when the Indian 4 man attack bowled plenty of short balls, which I enjoyed as a fan & was awesome to watch? What is a good wicket is to you? — Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 21, 2018





Vaughan and Johnson certainly weren't the only ones to furrow their brows over Madugalle's rating.

I see Perth pitch was rated average by ICC. Given that it was the most entertaining Test I've ever seen on a drop-in pitch and the MCG absolute road last year was rated poor, I'm not sure how curators can win #AUSvIND — Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 21, 2018





Perth pitch rated ‘average.’



Maybe the ICC match referee and the rest of the world were watching different games? #AUSvIND — Tom Morris (@tommorris32) December 21, 2018





Fantastic Test match in Perth produced a result on the fifth day, always the ideal. Lively pitch, but did it become dangerous? It certainly wasn't "average". I wonder if the ICC's pitch rating system is a bit two-dimensional. https://t.co/6SqR4ymvEh — Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) December 21, 2018





At the beginning of the year, the ICC introduced a disciplinary system with six ratings - very good, good, average, below average, poor and unfit - to ensure Test pitches are produced of the highest quality.

Any ground that receives a below average, poor and unfit rating will cop demerit points, and may face losing matches of international status.

It’s understood the Adelaide pitch, used for India’s historic 31-run victory, received a ‘very good’ rating.

MCG ground curator, former WACA man Matt Page, has been working around the clock to ensure the Boxing Day Test doesn’t see a repeat of summers past, with two of the last four Tests held at the iconic venue ending in draws.

The MCG pitch used for last summer's Ashes match between Australia and England was rated as 'poor', which will keep the venue's staff under the pump ahead of next week's crucial match.

Seven of the last nine Sheffield Shield matches at the MCG have also ended in draws.

Victorian-based players Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch have expressed their fears over an expected flat wicket for Boxing Day.

However, state teammate Peter Siddle downplayed the fears, saying the match will be played on a “result wicket”.