Delhi: Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticized the pitch of Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the last match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia won this match by 6 wickets in just three days. This pitch was favorable for fast bowlers and 17 wickets fell on the first day itself. The result of this match came in just 1141 balls, making it the shortest Test in terms of balls at SCG since 1896.
Vengsarkar believes that ICC should also take responsibility for the pitches of Test cricket, as it does in white ball tournaments. He said that this will give fans a chance to watch good quality Test cricket.
Vengsarkar told Times of India, “The quality of the pitch in Sydney was very poor. It was similar to the ones given in the name of turning wickets in India. Now is the time that if you want to see high level cricket, you have to ensure good pitches.”*
Vengsarkar further said, “If this is not done, then every country will prepare bad pitches to get maximum points in the World Test Championship, which will defeat the very purpose of WTC.”
Regarding the Sydney pitch, Vengsarkar said, “This pitch was so favorable for fast bowlers that it became difficult for the batsmen to score runs. There was so much grass here that cows could graze on it. If our bowler Jasprit Bumrah had not been injured, Australia would not have been able to chase 162 runs. But, the question is, who wants to watch matches with scores of 150-180 runs on such pitches? “People come to watch good cricket.”
Related News