The ICC rule that conditions for the two-day Test in Brisbane were suboptimal, and did not offer "an even contest between bat and ball"
The Gabba pitch that produced the second-shortest Test in Australia has been rated as "below average" by the ICC.
Match referee Richie Richardson said the two-day match "was not an even contest between bat and ball". The rating includes the venue being handed a demerit point.
South Africa were bowled out for 152 and 99 to lose by six wickets in Brisbane, giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series
Just seven Tests in history have been completed in fewer balls that the 866 it took to deliver a result. India's win over England in Ahmedabad last year is the only shorter Test since World War II.
"Overall, the Gabba pitch for this Test match was too much in favour of the bowlers. There was extra bounce and occasional excessive seam movement," said Richardson.
"The odd delivery also kept low on the second day, making it very difficult for batters to build partnerships.
"I found the pitch to be 'below average' as per the ICC guidelines since it was not an even contest between bat and ball."
Just two players passed 40 - Kyle Verreynne and Travis Head - as 34 wickets fell for just 504 runs.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar took the pitch to task and revealed he asked umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rod Tucker when conditions might be considered "unsafe".
"If you're going to lose the match, you'd probably try anything, wouldn't you?"
"Thirty-four wickets in two days, a pretty one-sided affair, that leads into what everyone is thinking," he told Fox Sports.
"I'm a purist, I want to see the game go to four or five days and the way, the nature of it, and how it played with some seriously steep bounce with the old ball, you are on a hiding to nothing as a batting unit.
"I did ask the umpires when KG [Kagiso Rabada] got (Travis) Head out down, how long does it go on for until potentially it is unsafe? I know the game was dead and buried, it was never to put a halt to the game.
"Maybe they felt I was trying to take the mickey because there were only a handful of runs left to get. It's not a bad reference point to get a reply. There wasn't a reply."
Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins had no qualms over conditions.
"Personally, I don't mind when the groundsman err on the greener side occasionally," he said.
"I've played a lot of Test matches when they’ve erred on the flatter side, so I think it was the same for both teams.
"If you're going to lose the match, you'd probably try anything, wouldn't you? There was some sideways movement and a little bit of up-and-down bounce but it was fine.
"There's no balls jumping off a length or anything like that...no way [was it dangerous]."
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