Drop-in pitches for Tests

[ILcricket]

The drop-in cricket pitch which sits in a metal tray & is dropped in enables major stadiums to switch between summer and winter surface requirements.
These pitches are being currently used in Adelaide , Auckland , Melbourne , Perth & Wellington as far as i can recall.
My personal observation is that such pitches have some life on day 1 & perhaps on day 2 but then become slow & rather lifeless with no significant wear & tear on day 4 & 5 . The recent Test at Adelaide , we saw the 4th innings being the longest of the match & lasting 120 overs .
Is there a case for either doing away with these kind of pitches or somehow ensuring that they do not become better as match progresses .
My final question is are these pitches good for Test cricket ?

 

[Buffet]

Any pitch is a good pitch if match is giving result in the last two sessions of 5th day. Pitch had enough for spinner, pacers and batsmen who were willing to spend time. Much better than roads.

 

[jagatk]

Any pitch is a good pitch if match is giving result in the last two sessions of 5th day. Pitch had enough for spinner, pacers and batsmen who were willing to spend time. Much better than roads.

Much better than roads yes but the only reason this was a result game was because batsmen on both teams decided to forget how to bat for most part of the game.

 

[ILcricket]

how do you explain the 4th innings being longest of the match at 120 overs ? Incidentally , Warne too said this pitch had slowed down considerably on day 4 & 5 .

 

[ILcricket]

Much better than roads yes but the only reason this was a result game was because batsmen on both teams decided to forget how to bat for most part of the game.

You nailed it .

 

[Buffet]

Well, it would have been a draw if batsmen would have batted sensibly, but Aus has produced many roads where draw has happened in past.

Next match won't be a draw. It will be the quickest pitch.

 

[Buffet]

how do you explain the 4th innings being longest of the match at 120 overs ? Incidentally , Warne too said this pitch had slowed down considerably on day 4 & 5 .

Because Pitch didn't crumble. Otherwise you can't bat for 120 overs in the last inning.

 

[ILcricket]

is that good advert for Test cricket ?

 

[Buffet]

is that good advert for Test cricket ?

We are going to get all kinds of pitches. Worst pitches are the roads which gives nothing to bowlers.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Not a great pitch at all, but still better than road

 

[ILcricket]

it is not about just this Adelaide pitch but drop-in pitches in general .

 

[Buffet]

it is not about just this Adelaide pitch but drop-in pitches in general .

I personally don't like drop in pitches, but it can't be helped here.

 

[cricketindiafan]

all 40 wickets taken, match decided in 3rd session of day 5, no team scored more than 350. Was a very good test match pitch, a bit on the slower side but with a very fine balance between bat and ball.

 

[ILcricket]

all 40 wickets taken, match decided in 3rd session of day 5, no team scored more than 350. Was a very good test match pitch, a bit on the slower side but with a very fine balance between bat and ball.

2 things : had we not collapsed from 282/5 to 307/10 & batted on till 400 which Kohli said we wanted , it would have consumed around 25 overs minimum & when the match ended , only 20 overs were left in the day . Poor shots precipitated result , not the pitch .

 

[ILcricket]

I would like hear from our resident kiwi [MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] & 2 knowledgeable posters [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] & [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] on this .

 

[cricketindiafan]

2 things : had we not collapsed from 282/5 to 307/10 & batted on till 400 which Kohli said we wanted , it would have consumed around 25 overs minimum & when the match ended , only 20 overs were left in the day . Poor shots precipitated result , not the pitch .

And those shots resulted in wickets because it wasn't exactly a flat patta where you could through the line. Also, our batsmen began to play shots because they realised survival was becoming difficult on day 4.

Drop it pitches have had this problem of flattening out in the past, here that was not the case.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In the sheffield shield game there was a huge 4th innings chase at the adelaide oval. So there was enough evidence borderline targets won't be safe.

 

[ILcricket]

And those shots resulted in wickets because it wasn't exactly a flat patta where you could through the line. Also, our batsmen began to play shots because they realised survival was becoming difficult on day 4.

Drop it pitches have had this problem of flattening out in the past, here that was not the case.

funny you should say that as 4th inning was the longest of the match .

 

[ILcricket]

Another quirky contradiction before Perth , Langer says he expects pace & bounce from the drop-in pitch while Deano tweeted yesterday that pitch & ground abrasive , expects both spin & reverse .

 

[fitCricFan]

This reminds me of the shift in Field hockey where the natural grass gave way to astroturf causing the game to change from skill to power play. This was a huge loss for the Asian teams who had always relied on controlling the ball on an uneven surface and lacked the power game of the Western countries.

Its a great idea. There has been a significant shift in the viewership since the 80's/90's and the cricket now is much fast paced. Now you expect a result in every test match whereas in that era, a draw was the expected outcome.

I'd say, anything that supports a result and provides a fair opportunity for both teams is a good thing.

 

[ILcricket]

End of day 1 at Perth , Commies , expert & just about everyone said this pitch will quicken on day 2 & 3 & unsettling bounce due to cracks will be more pronounced .
Not taking anything from brilliant batting by Kohli & Rahane , the DROP-IN pitch has settled from session 2 & is not as dangerous as every one thought it would be.
Pitches which become benign as game progresses are no good .

 

[ILcricket]

Another classic drop-in pitch at Wellington with 246 runs added for the 4th wicket in 96 overs on DAY FOUR & draw from a high of 70 end day 3 is now firm favorite at 1.35 .
Perfect example of why such pitches are not good for Test cricket .

 

[ILcricket]

Another slow & pathetic drop-in pitch at MCG . This despite the curator giving 2 statements in last 5 days that pitch will be a sporting one & coach Langer too saying he expects a surface with help for bowlers .
Killing Test cricket surely !

 

[Sin Nombre]

Last 2 test matches have gone into the 5th day with a result. Can't complain about that at all.

 

[ILcricket]

Last 2 test matches have gone into the 5th day with a result. Can't complain about that at all.

Correction - Wellington was a draw . One result in last 2 .

 

[ILcricket]

Another slow & pathetic drop-in pitch at MCG . This despite the curator giving 2 statements in last 5 days that pitch will be a sporting one & coach Langer too saying he expects a surface with help for bowlers .
Killing Test cricket surely !

A slow & sluggish pitch at MCG & a result only looking likely because of fantastic work by Indian bowlers & terrible top order batting by Aussies .Hope ICC gives another poor rating here .

 

[Buffet]

I personally didn't like this pitch. If Bumrah had not bowled that spell , this should have been a dull draw.

 

[Saurav]

I personally didn't like this pitch. If Bumrah had not bowled that spell , this should have been a dull draw.

Uneven bounce from first day.Apart from Bumrah,Cummins,Jadeja did well too,Infact it would have been low scoring match if not for 'disgraceful' batting approach in first innings from india

 

[Buffet]

Uneven bounce from first day.Apart from Bumrah,Cummins,Jadeja did well too,Infact it would have been low scoring match if not for 'disgraceful' batting approach in first innings from india

There have been probably 3 wickets as direct result of ball keeping low. So it's uneven bounce, but not a minefield at all. My issue is with being such a sluggish track. It should have more pace.

 

[ILcricket]

I personally didn't like this pitch. If Bumrah had not bowled that spell , this should have been a dull draw.

oh yes , this was a draw barring brilliance of Bumrah & some ordinary cricket by Aussie top order . Picking up 18 wickets for 400 runs on this deck is top stuff .

 

[ILcricket]

Uneven bounce from first day.Apart from Bumrah,Cummins,Jadeja did well too,Infact it would have been low scoring match if not for 'disgraceful' batting approach in first innings from india

did you see what happened today ? Anything spiteful on day 4 ? Make no mistake , this is a pathetic pitch & worthy of a dull draw .

 

[ILcricket]

[MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] check what is happening in Kiwi land on day 3,4 & 5 of Tests . The inherent nature of a compact surface in a tray takes away the natural wear & tear which occurs as the game progresses .
MCG pitch , despite the green tuffs on day 1 turning straw colored by day 3 , no major footmark indentations . Curator & the concept of pitch-in-tray needs to be junked .

 

[Saurav]

There have been probably 3 wickets as direct result of ball keeping low. So it's uneven bounce, but not a minefield at all. My issue is with being such a sluggish track. It should have more pace.

It doesn't have to be a minefield,but there was enough for everyone.Pacers,spinners and batsmen willing to grind.The result came on 5th day too.

Sure could have had more pace and carry,but then were deliveries from cummins which reared up alarmingly

 

[ILcricket]

Lot of people complaining about these pitches including 1 Mr Paine

 

[ataullah]

Rameez mentioned pak need a drop in pitch at lahore and karachi. It costs an awful lot but can we get an aussie type pitch or englsh???