Faf du Plessis won't back off from designer pitches in South Africa that favour the home team

[Tusker]

Faf not backing off from designer pitches that favor the home team.

https://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/du-plessis-disappointed-centurion-wanderers-pitches/290298

Prior to and during the three-Test series against India, Faf du Plessis has made no secret of exactly what he and the South African team had demanded from groundsmen in terms of pitches: pace and bounce.

Du Plessis held that taking the small percentage of advantage as the home team was imperative. “You must try and get – whether it’s one percent or five percent or ten percent – whatever you can you must try and get an advantage against opposition that’s quality,” he elaborated.

Mods - Not sure If I can post links from CI but these are the quotes from there ....

South Africa will continue to ask home curators to prepare surfaces to favour their pace pack

Captain Faf du Plessis has expressed his disappointment at both Highveld venues but instead of backing off, emphasised the importance of groundspersons working with team management to prepare pitches that can help South Africa.

----

So I recall the uproar on PP when India did the same to SA in the 2015 series and the incessant trolling by the usual suspects over here but not surprised one bit at the silence from the same.

 

[Boi]

Pakistan are going to get wrecked later this year if they get these designer pitches.

 

[AlizeeFan]

Only difference is that SA will get smashed by Eng and Aus on these pitches.

Even NZ will fancy their chances of winning here.

 

[Jabo]

they lost to india and got embarrassed

 

[indipper]

Just like India goes for spinning wheel tracks?

 

[Tusker]

Only difference is that SA will get smashed by Eng and Aus on these pitches.

Even NZ will fancy their chances of winning here.

This is ok for some reason but god forbid an Asian team prepares a pitch to suit the home team that then becomes unacceptable.

 

[Napa]

Faf is just being honest here. All teams do it, including Pakistan in UAE, though some posters vehemently claim that there is no home advantage in UAE in spite of being contradicted by stats.

 

[troodon]

Nothing wrong with designing pitches that favor Home teams. It’s called Home advantage.

 

[LegendAli]

Nothing wrong with designing pitches that favor Home teams. It’s called Home advantage.

It's called home advantage because of the fans in house not because you're technically "cheating".

 

[Tusker]

It's called home advantage because of the fans in house not because you're technically "cheating".

More like - "its cheating when India does it but when SA/Eng/AUS/NZ do it then its a Normal thing".

 

[Mamoon]

This is ok for some reason but god forbid an Asian team prepares a pitch to suit the home team that then becomes unacceptable.

PP's resident South African used to thump his chest for years that CSA doesn't tinker with the pitches.

 

[Slog]

Green pitches still produce good cricket overall (pitch in 3rd test was a bad pitch)

 

[Convict]

Faf is just being honest here. All teams do it, including Pakistan in UAE, though some posters vehemently claim that there is no home advantage in UAE in spite of being contradicted by stats.

Australia don't

 

[Sidilicious]

Australia don't

And thats why Australia does not seem to produce exciting test matches very often.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Faf is just being honest here. All teams do it, including Pakistan in UAE, though some posters vehemently claim that there is no home advantage in UAE in spite of being contradicted by stats.

There's nothing you can do with the soil in UAE pitches. They're mostly the same every game. We would tinker if we could but it's not our home conditions.

 

[Sidilicious]

There's nothing you can do with the soil in UAE pitches. They're mostly the same every game. We would tinker if we could but it's not our home conditions.

Doesnt PCB have any control over the curator?

Tbh, even when PCB had control over curators, they produced the most boring pitches. Its good for Pakistan cricket that tests are held in UAE. otherwise, we would see those 2 tests we saw against India in 2006.

 

[Sidilicious]

There's nothing you can do with the soil in UAE pitches. They're mostly the same every game. We would tinker if we could but it's not our home conditions.

They should actually hire some Indian curators.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

They should actually hire some Indian curators.

It's not the curators man. The soil in UAE is very soft and overused and the extreme heat with no rain doesn't allow for variety.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Doesnt PCB have any control over the curator?

Tbh, even when PCB had control over curators, they produced the most boring pitches. Its good for Pakistan cricket that tests are held in UAE. otherwise, we would see those 2 tests we saw against India in 2006.

Yeah, they have some control but even when they ask for a certain pitch, it turns out to be the usual.

They did but we do have more variety in Pakistan. Under Mickey, I can see us exploiting those conditions. There's also more conventional and reverse swing on offer.

 

[Sidilicious]

Yeah, they have some control but even when they ask for a certain pitch, it turns out to be the usual.

They did but we do have more variety in Pakistan. Under Mickey, I can see us exploiting those conditions. There's also more conventional and reverse swing on offer.

I suppose the conditions would be very much like Mohali (Lahore) and Mumbai (Karachi). Though I wonder about the content of clay in those pitches. The ones in south India tend to have clay (IIRC).

But [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has in the past been extremely critical of the pitches produced by the PCB even during the 90s. Pakistan has to produce exciting pitches when cricket comes back to Pakistan. At least earlier you had some legends who could produce something out of nothing with ball. Not the case anymore, unfortunately.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Australia don't

Yeah i agree with this. If Australian posters have a problem with pitches in the SC, it's understandable but it's laughable when Saffers/English/NZ'ers talk about biased pitch preparation when they have been doing it themselves.

 

[MMHS]

I suppose the conditions would be very much like Mohali (Lahore) and Mumbai (Karachi). Though I wonder about the content of clay in those pitches. The ones in south India tend to have clay (IIRC).

But [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] has in the past been extremely critical of the pitches produced by the PCB even during the 90s. Pakistan has to produce exciting pitches when cricket comes back to Pakistan. At least earlier you had some legends who could produce something out of nothing with ball. Not the case anymore, unfortunately.

Previous wickets were dead, absolute dead - but at least that asked bowlers to do something unique like speed of 150K+ in air, reverse swing, cutters, google, doosra, tishra .......... and batsmen had to earn the long innings against wicket taking balls under persistent pressure ..... now it has gone to dog meat level. Producing Azhar Ali, Anwar Ali and hundreds of finger darters .... spinners & pacers are bowling at similar pace, even leggis.

 

[Napa]

Australia don't

Really? I assume you believe Australian pitches help Indian spinners as much as they help Australian pacers.

 

[Napa]

They should actually hire some Indian curators.

It barely costs anything to dump a couple of truckloads of whatever soil you prefer to get any kind of pitch you want.

 

[MMHS]

There shouldn't be any hupla on wicket - that's why it's called Test cricket. You win at home & you win away - that was Lloyd's WI and partially that Aussie side.

I don't understand, why people are talking like something synonymous of making every golf course of identical dimension and hazards? Or we should close every surface and play tennis only on Clay or hard court. Even in soccer, Sir Alex's Old Trafford was 10 metre wide because he knew how to run riot by his wingers in last 15 minutes, while old Highbury was 10 meters narrow than usual to make it - "one nil to Arsenal" often.

The beauty of Test cricket is in diversity of the wicket - which sometimes can be extreme at either end. Few seasons back AUS-NZ played a Test at WACA - I can argue that, it was even worse wicket than J'burg. These days media jokers bark lot if a Test ends in 3 days because of loss of media earnings (& talk lot about 4 day Test) - but same people are silent, if 3rd innings starts after tea on Day 4 - it ensures full 5 days' pay cheque (and we talk lot about how boring Test cricket is).

Wicket should be last thing talked around the game and toss at start should remain exactly as it is. Viv Richrads chased 276 in 4th innings at Delhi, at the age of 35+, when the wicket produced 1st innings total of 75 & 127 - that made him Viv Richards, not for his batting average of 50.23. And, I don't call any wicket dangerous - it's professional hazard, every sports has some pain in it unless we are playing checkers only.

For the last time - home wicket MUST help the home side more than visitors - those who can, will do it thereafter, these are among very few - rest are just part of the good mass in history. Next time when BD plays IND at home - I would ask for a wicket that produces 1000 runs in 1st innings and we'll play 8 batsmen, while against Poms a wicket where both team plays 4 spinners each - if IND is good enough, they'll win still and if Poms are good enough, they'll avoid defeat - that's Test cricket.

 

[barah_admi]

Faf is just being honest here. All teams do it, including Pakistan in UAE, though some posters vehemently claim that there is no home advantage in UAE in spite of being contradicted by stats.

Stats contradict pitch conditions? Can you tel me which stat shows Pakistani groundsmen are active in the UAE? The head groundsman is an India sikh emigre to the UAE. None of the ground staff are recruited from Pakistan/PCB as far as I can tell. A few years ago, there were even complaints that the Pakistan head groundsman could only attend for visits and not stay to construct a pitch.

That's not to say the pitches are not favourable to the team BUT they are not in hand, like they are for every other home nation, which makes Pakistan's performances even better.

Now, there is nothing wrong with a home captain asking for home conditions.

 

[Napa]

Stats contradict pitch conditions? Can you tel me which stat shows Pakistani groundsmen are active in the UAE

The relevant statistic is the difference in performance of the Pakistani team in UAE and elsewhere.

 

[Gubol123]

There shouldn't be any hupla on wicket - that's why it's called Test cricket. You win at home & you win away - that was Lloyd's WI and partially that Aussie side.

I don't understand, why people are talking like something synonymous of making every golf course of identical dimension and hazards? Or we should close every surface and play tennis only on Clay or hard court. Even in soccer, Sir Alex's Old Trafford was 10 metre wide because he knew how to run riot by his wingers in last 15 minutes, while old Highbury was 10 meters narrow than usual to make it - "one nil to Arsenal" often.

The beauty of Test cricket is in diversity of the wicket - which sometimes can be extreme at either end. Few seasons back AUS-NZ played a Test at WACA - I can argue that, it was even worse wicket than J'burg. These days media jokers bark lot if a Test ends in 3 days because of loss of media earnings (& talk lot about 4 day Test) - but same people are silent, if 3rd innings starts after tea on Day 4 - it ensures full 5 days' pay cheque (and we talk lot about how boring Test cricket is).

Wicket should be last thing talked around the game and toss at start should remain exactly as it is. Viv Richrads chased 276 in 4th innings at Delhi, at the age of 35+, when the wicket produced 1st innings total of 75 & 127 - that made him Viv Richards, not for his batting average of 50.23. And, I don't call any wicket dangerous - it's professional hazard, every sports has some pain in it unless we are playing checkers only.

For the last time - home wicket MUST help the home side more than visitors - those who can, will do it thereafter, these are among very few - rest are just part of the good mass in history. Next time when BD plays IND at home - I would ask for a wicket that produces 1000 runs in 1st innings and we'll play 8 batsmen, while against Poms a wicket where both team plays 4 spinners each - if IND is good enough, they'll win still and if Poms are good enough, they'll avoid defeat - that's Test cricket.

well said, and no one should have any issues when any team produces wickets that benefit their team. Most of the reactions from Indians were due to accusations that they have to face every time they win at home. If all pitches were same why tour at all.. makes absolutely no sense to expect anything other that pitches helping their home team

 

[Last Monetarist]

The beauty of Test cricket is in diversity of the wicket - which sometimes can be extreme at either end. Few seasons back AUS-NZ played a Test at WACA - I can argue that, it was even worse wicket than J'burg. These days media jokers bark lot if a Test ends in 3 days because of loss of media earnings (& talk lot about 4 day Test) - but same people are silent, if 3rd innings starts after tea on Day 4 - it ensures full 5 days' pay cheque (and we talk lot about how boring Test cricket is).

Exactement, my good man. I can't get past the hypocrisy of lunatics like Michael Holding, who let's admit has been one of the more level-headed voices in cricket over the past two decades, when discussing the pitch. The wicket at the MCG for the recent Boxing Day test did ten times more damage to the future of test cricket than this supposed travesty. Batsmen need to adapt, the ones in the old days did.

 

[barah_admi]

The relevant statistic is the difference in performance of the Pakistani team in UAE and elsewhere.

Pakistan won 2 tests in England and drew the series. India haven't won more than one test a series in 11 years. That is better than anything India have done outside of the windies, where Pak have also coincidentally won.

None of that has anything to do with what this thread is about, i.e. captains having an input in creating a home advantage pitch. Pakistani pitch curators do not work on UAE pitches. That is the bottom line.

 

[Napa]

Pakistan won 2 tests in England and drew the series. India haven't won more than one test a series in 11 years. That is better than anything India have done outside of the windies, where Pak have also coincidentally won.

You have a strange idea how statistics is done. You are supposed to include all series, and not just the one that helps whatever argument you are trying to make.

Also, India's performance in England has nothing to do with whether UAE pitches favor Pakistan.

 

[barah_admi]

You have a strange idea how statistics is done. You are supposed to include all series, and not just the one that helps whatever argument you are trying to make.

Also, India's performance in England has nothing to do with whether UAE pitches favor Pakistan.

Look, get back on point. I asked you to prove to me that PCB appointed, Pakistani contracted groundsmen work on UAE pitches, thus providing Pakistan with the home conditions that they want. Can you name me the head curator?

 

[BaankeJi]

Australia don't

Then how did all Australian wickets become roads?

 

[Hasan123]

Home teams are entitled to produce pitches that suit them. Why should they produce a pitch that suits the opposition? Even though I want to see a contest between bat and ball, at the end of the day teams want to win tests so if they can have alter the pitch to there needs there should be any complaints.

 

[Princejain191]

That is what home advantage is actually about. Winning away from home is not only about winning in a different geographical location but also about conquering the foreign and unfamiliar conditions. And it should be the job of home team to make the conditions as favourable for themselves as possible. Never understood why IND-SA 2015 pitches were criticised and these pitches shouldn't be too. Good on Faf to be so open about what he wants. More bowler friendly the surfaces are, the more watchable the test matches are. No one should produce the type of pitches that Australia or the UAE produces.

 

[Napa]

Look, get back on point. I asked you to prove to me that PCB appointed, Pakistani contracted groundsmen work on UAE pitches, thus providing Pakistan with the home conditions that they want. Can you name me the head curator?

There are multiple ways to infer if UAE pitches help the Pakistani team. The most accurate way is to look at how the team fares in UAE compared to other countries.

 

[Tusker]

PP's resident South African used to thump his chest for years that CSA doesn't tinker with the pitches.

Who is This? [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] ?

 

[Buffet]

Who is This? [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] ?

I don't recall making such claims. I have only claimed that Aus team usually don't have say in how pitch will be prepared, but everyone else has say in their home country. This is not some insider information, just my observation based on media reporting.

 

[Mamoon]

Who is This? [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] ?

I don't recall making such claims. I have only claimed that Aus team usually don't have say in how pitch will be prepared, but everyone else has say in their home country. This is not some insider information, just my observation based on media reporting.

[MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION]

 

[Tusker]

I don't recall making such claims. I have only claimed that Aus team usually don't have say in how pitch will be prepared, but everyone else has say in their home country. This is not some insider information, just my observation based on media reporting.

yep didnt think so ... but you are the only SA fan out here that I'am aware of

[MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION]

lol ...

 

[soso_killer]

Why should SA back down? Every country benefits from home conditions except us, until recently.
We've been naive about pitches for too long. I think it's time CSA appoint a Head Groundsman, every country seems to have one. We've lost too many matches at home, the only reason we didn't win the third Test is that we dropped dollies.

We used to play Australia on roads away, when Steyn was injured (with no AB as well) they tried to prepare spicy wickets and that backfired as we won the series 2-1. I want the same in March, our batsman are more adaptable. I want seaming tracks. If we lose so be it. Can't keep on dishing non seaming tracks for the Aussies.

We need to work on our fielding and catching though if we're to beat Australia. Ngidi is a poor fielder, should work on that.

Faf is a breath of fresh air, South Africa has been to diplomatic and getting no credit in return but insults and back stabbing.

 

[Slog]

PP's resident South African used to thump his chest for years that CSA doesn't tinker with the pitches.

it is true though

this was prolly first season where they brazenly used this.

And even then the 2nd test had a subcontinental type pitch

 

[soso_killer]

Australia don't

Yes they do. Australia nullified our bowling attack for years. It's no coincidence that when our batting line up was weaker and Steyn injured we started seeing good wickets in Australia.

Nothing wrong with that to be fair, I want us to try something different as well. Both teams defeat each other away from home in any case, that's a given. Make the series an innings shootout, it's more entertaining than 450+ Test matches.

 

[barah_admi]

There are multiple ways to infer if UAE pitches help the Pakistani team. The most accurate way is to look at how the team fares in UAE compared to other countries.

Again, you are avoiding both my question and the theme of this thread. It is about the captains and management of the home side, having a big impact on how pitches are produced. I personally feel there is no problem in that BUT Pakistan do not have the same impact on their pitches as other countries do. If you can negate that, you are welcome. If not, just admit you're wrong, there's no harm in that.

 

[Tusker]

Again, you are avoiding both my question and the theme of this thread. It is about the captains and management of the home side, having a big impact on how pitches are produced. I personally feel there is no problem in that BUT Pakistan do not have the same impact on their pitches as other countries do. If you can negate that, you are welcome. If not, just admit you're wrong, there's no harm in that.

he just did that through stats ... naturally you wont like the answer which we all knew would happen.

 

[Tusker]

Why should SA back down? Every country benefits from home conditions except us, until recently.
We've been naive about pitches for too long. I think it's time CSA appoint a Head Groundsman, every country seems to have one. We've lost too many matches at home, the only reason we didn't win the third Test is that we dropped dollies.

We used to play Australia on roads away, when Steyn was injured (with no AB as well) they tried to prepare spicy wickets and that backfired as we won the series 2-1. I want the same in March, our batsman are more adaptable. I want seaming tracks. If we lose so be it. Can't keep on dishing non seaming tracks for the Aussies.

We need to work on our fielding and catching though if we're to beat Australia. Ngidi is a poor fielder, should work on that.

Faf is a breath of fresh air, South Africa has been to diplomatic and getting no credit in return but insults and back stabbing.

Then don't cry when India prepares rank turners when SA tour Next which is a guarantee if Shastri+Kohli have their way. What goes around comes around.

 

[Convict]

Then how did all Australian wickets become roads?

Because 5 days of cricket = more tv money. Cricket Australia has sold its sole to the corporate dollar. James Sutherland was on the radio the other day referring to cricket matches as "content" rather than you know actually cricket matches.

Really? I assume you believe Australian pitches help Indian spinners as much as they help Australian pacers.

Where did I suggest that? Naturally Australian conditions benefit Australians more than Indians. This isn't deliberate its an inevitable result of local conditions eg weather/clay.

And thats why Australia does not seem to produce exciting test matches very often.

In part yeah.

Yes they do. Australia nullified our bowling attack for years. It's no coincidence that when our batting line up was weaker and Steyn injured we started seeing good wickets in Australia.

Nothing wrong with that to be fair, I want us to try something different as well. Both teams defeat each other away from home in any case, that's a given. Make the series an innings shootout, it's more entertaining than 450+ Test matches.

Do you think Australia prepared flat wickets against NZ, India, Pakistan and England this year to nullify their pace attacks as well?

Australian test wickets are flat across the board against every opposition. Because five days of cricket means more money.

Why does South Africa play in Perth every tour (basically a free win to South Africa)? If Australia were aiming to maximise our chances of winning we'd never schedule you to play in Perth. But Perth has a large expat South African population = more tickets sold = more cash.

 

[barah_admi]

he just did that through stats ... naturally you wont like the answer which we all knew would happen.

I'm sorry, but was I replying to you? No.

But since you are so adamant in being involved, can you tell me the name of the heads groundsman in the UAE and how often Pakistani pitch curators work on the UAE pitches?

 

[Chrish]

If Australia wanted the home advantage then they would serve fast wickets to Asian teams and road type wickets to SA. They served spicy wickets to SA last time because of overwhelming dissatisfaction among viewers regarding nature of wickets from preceding series.

There is a reason why Aus bowlers are always complaining about flatness of their wickets forever bagging for faster wickets with bounce.

 

[Tusker]

I'm sorry, but was I replying to you? No.

But since you are so adamant in being involved, can you tell me the name of the heads groundsman in the UAE and how often Pakistani pitch curators work on the UAE pitches?

This is a public forum get used to people responding to your posts without waiting for a invite.

I don't know groundsmans names from any country including India . Tell me how that is relevant to the discussion.

 

[Napa]

he just did that through stats ... naturally you wont like the answer which we all knew would happen.

He doesn't seem to be getting this point, no point in belaboring the obvious.

 

[Napa]

Where did I suggest that? Naturally Australian conditions benefit Australians more than Indians. This isn't deliberate its an inevitable result of local conditions eg weather/clay.

Now I get it. If Australian pitches benefit Australians it is "naturally", whereas if Indian pitches benefit Indians it is because they are fixed.

 

[barah_admi]

This is a public forum get used to people responding to your posts without waiting for a invite.

I don't know groundsmans names from any country including India . Tell me how that is relevant to the discussion.

If you don't know how that is relevant to the discussion, then you havent read this thread, my original point or know what this thread is about.

let me explain it to you one last time. The thread is about home captains, management and board having a say in how home pitches are prepared and then preparing it that way. This napa fella says the same thing happens in Pakistan (al Indians bring up Pakistan in a discussion that doesnt even warrant it). My point was that it happens to a far less degree than any other home side.

He disagreed, I then pointed out that Pakistani groundsmen and curators do not have a permanent presence in the UAE, most of the staff is Indian and the head curators name is Singh. He continued to claim Pakistan was on equal footing.

You by your own admission have no clue whats going on in India, how do you know whats happening in the UAE?

So we come back to what I said, if you can show me any other home side that faces the same situation, without home groundsmen and head curator, working on their pitches, then let me know. If that isn't the case, then accept you're wrong.

If the english is too complicated, then stay out of the conversation. Thanks.

 

[Tusker]

If you don't know how that is relevant to the discussion, then you havent read this thread, my original point or know what this thread is about.

let me explain it to you one last time. The thread is about home captains, management and board having a say in how home pitches are prepared and then preparing it that way. This napa fella says the same thing happens in Pakistan (al Indians bring up Pakistan in a discussion that doesnt even warrant it). My point was that it happens to a far less degree than any other home side.

He disagreed, I then pointed out that Pakistani groundsmen and curators do not have a permanent presence in the UAE, most of the staff is Indian and the head curators name is Singh. He continued to claim Pakistan was on equal footing.

You by your own admission have no clue whats going on in India, how do you know whats happening in the UAE?

So we come back to what I said, if you can show me any other home side that faces the same situation, without home groundsmen and head curator, working on their pitches, then let me know. If that isn't the case, then accept you're wrong.

If the english is too complicated, then stay out of the conversation. Thanks.

I know your point which is conspiracy theory. It has no relevance here because the groundsmen are just workers. PCB pays them indirectly thru UAE and they are the bosses. They have to listen to their bosses. That's how it works everywhere. Are you telling me PCB has no say on this ?

 

[Convict]

Now I get it. If Australian pitches benefit Australians it is "naturally", whereas if Indian pitches benefit Indians it is because they are fixed.

Get rid of the chip on your shoulder.

When can you remember Australia preparing a wicket like this Wanderers one, Pune 2017 or that Lord's wicket England gave you a few years ago?

All the teams except Australia prepare wickets to their only advantage and the reason Australia doesn't isn't because of any morale high ground but because CA are massive money grubbers.

 

[giri26]

He need not back off at all. SA should prepare wickets that suit them and that is what is called home advantage. When you prepare such wickets, you are bound to lose few games, that is the risk you have to take.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

it is true though

this was prolly first season where they brazenly used this.

And even then the 2nd test had a subcontinental type pitch

No, they have been preparing spicy pitches at least since 5 seasons. 47 AO series, PAK series, Kiwi series, SL series, Zimbos/ WI all got green wickets. Only India and to an extent Eng got moderate pitches last time around but seeing the rank turners we dished them in 2015 we got Jo'burg pitch in return.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

SA is not playing 4 or more tests against anyone bar England @ home, economics?

 

[GrandMaster]

Tailor made pitch. But for whom? SA or INDIA?

 

[Convict]

SA is not playing 4 or more tests against anyone bar England @ home, economics?

They are playing four against Aus next month.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

South African pitches were great fun to watch. Made up for fascinating cricket. If it were up to me, I'd garland the curators for each match. More power to Faf.

UAE and Australian pitches on the other hand produce dreadful, soul destroying, cricket-destroying cricket. They are the one's who need to be told to not listen to the home teams.

 

[soso_killer]

Then don't cry when India prepares rank turners when SA tour Next which is a guarantee if Shastri+Kohli have their way. What goes around comes around.

India can do whatever they want, they've done it already. We have them to thank in any case. For years G. Smith used to cry about our conditions. I remember the sentiment around the country after and during the India tour, everytime I switched the radio "our we naive about our conditions?", "why do we play in Durban?", "why do we pamper the opposition etc".

Now SA are street smart, venues (i.e. where we play) and conditions will be prepared according to whom we play against. Australia will play in slow seaming conditions in coastal areas bar the last Test at the Bullring. I don't see anything wrong with trying to maximise home advantage, everyone has been doing so except nice old South Africa. We're slow learners in general, but learn we certainly do.

 

[soso_killer]

Because 5 days of cricket = more tv money. Cricket Australia has sold its sole to the corporate dollar. James Sutherland was on the radio the other day referring to cricket matches as "content" rather than you know actually cricket matches.



Where did I suggest that? Naturally Australian conditions benefit Australians more than Indians. This isn't deliberate its an inevitable result of local conditions eg weather/clay.



In part yeah.



Do you think Australia prepared flat wickets against NZ, India, Pakistan and England this year to nullify their pace attacks as well?

Australian test wickets are flat across the board against every opposition. Because five days of cricket means more money.

Why does South Africa play in Perth every tour (basically a free win to South Africa)? If Australia were aiming to maximise our chances of winning we'd never schedule you to play in Perth. But Perth has a large expat South African population = more tickets sold = more cash.

England and South Africa are the only teams to have won in Australia, I don't think Australia needs much to win against the rest. The previous two Ashes had better wickets than anything SA has played on until recently. I do believe conditions were tailored to neutralize our attack. Nothing wrong with that. Unlike SA who created a dangerous wicket for Johnson.

 

[Napa]

Get rid of the chip on your shoulder.

Chip on my shoulder???

 

[Tusker]

India can do whatever they want, they've done it already. We have them to thank in any case.

Not really ... India started this after finding themselves playing on Green tracks once too often compared to others and it decided to reciprocate in kind. And yes SA whinged about pitches last time they played in India and Faf still keeps mentioning that.

And yeah we do prepare pitches assisting Pacers (Dharmshala , Kolkatta from recent past ) from time to time. Find me one pitch in SA that remotely favors spin as much as those two pitches favor fast bowlers. Aint happening.

 

[FreePalestine]

Get rid of the chip on your shoulder.

When can you remember Australia preparing a wicket like this Wanderers one, Pune 2017 or that Lord's wicket England gave you a few years ago?

All the teams except Australia prepare wickets to their only advantage and the reason Australia doesn't isn't because of any morale high ground but because CA are massive money grubbers.

What kind of comment is this? I'm not even Indian and I would kindly request that you look at the chip on your shoulder before commenting on the chip on theirs!

Also do you genuinely think Australia do not prepare pitches that suit their players? Why were all the pitches the same in all four test matches against England? Do you think super flat wickets are the only way to make a test last five days? I am sure the commercial aspect is part of it, but to think Aussies do not make use of home advantage at all is a bit naive I reckon.

Having said that, can Indians stop whining about Faf's comments? Clearly SA are saying this stuff in response to the type of pitches they got in India and what they see happening all over the world. So to say, 'oh look, no one is saying anything now, we will continue to make rank turners when SA visit!' is a comment a bit coloured by short-term memory. Also, the 2nd test was on a wicket that offered turn and was reasonably slow. Pretty much tailor made for a good competition. Kohli said so himself.

 

[wrongun]

South African pitches were great fun to watch. Made up for fascinating cricket. If it were up to me, I'd garland the curators for each match. More power to Faf.

UAE and Australian pitches on the other hand produce dreadful, soul destroying, cricket-destroying cricket. They are the one's who need to be told to not listen to the home teams.

Curators in Australia don't answer to anyone and just make whatever wicket they want. There genuinely is no influence on what kind if pitches we get (India has got a number of slow decks in the past that suit the more than us). Imagine telling Ian Chappel or S Waugh how to do their job- an Australian curator would give you the same reply.

 

[Tusker]

Having said that, can Indians stop whining about Faf's comments? Clearly SA are saying this stuff in response to the type of pitches they got in India and what they see happening all over the world. So to say, 'oh look, no one is saying anything now, we will continue to make rank turners when SA visit!' is a comment a bit coloured by short-term memory. Also, the 2nd test was on a wicket that offered turn and was reasonably slow. Pretty much tailor made for a good competition. Kohli said so himself.

This isnt a recent phenomenon ... it has been going on for a long time when India tour SA ... Never once will you ever get a pitch that favors Indias strengths. Whereas I can actually show you matches in India that favored fast bowlers a lot.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Curators in Australia don't answer to anyone and just make whatever wicket they want. There genuinely is no influence on what kind if pitches we get (India has got a number of slow decks in the past that suit the more than us). Imagine telling Ian Chappel or S Waugh how to do their job- an Australian curator would give you the same reply.

I can understand if they don't take orders from players. But I they do take orders from someone! Their bosses, CA, Regional association. And even if they are't taking orders from anyone, consistently churning out batting pitches match after match shows they aren't very good at producing sporting, fun wickets or they are killing cricket on purpose.

This is not to say we won't get results in Australia. Far from it. Modern cricket almost guarantees results in test cricket. Visiting teams aren't' good adapters to foreign conditions any more and short form cricket has taken patience away from majority of the players.

How you arrive at results makes all the difference between a fun, entertaining series and yet another forgettable advertisement for test cricket.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Because 5 days of cricket = more tv money. Cricket Australia has sold its sole to the corporate dollar. James Sutherland was on the radio the other day referring to cricket matches as "content" rather than you know actually cricket matches.

So technically they are doctoring, no? The team may have no say in it but the CA do and I think somehow Australia find it easier to win match on flat beds.

They naturally score faster, so accumulate big scores and beat sides out of sheer scoreboard pressure.

 

[Swashbuckler]

They beat both India and Pakistan on designer pitches. Now stop lecturing Asian curators.