Kagiso Rabada defends SA pitches: Test runs aren't supposed to be easy

[jnaveen1980]

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/P...-test-runs-arent-supposed-to-be-easy-20190105

Rabada defends SA pitches: Test runs aren't supposed to be easy
2019-01-05 21:04


Lloyd Burnard - Newlands
Cape Town - Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada has defended the state of South African Test wickets following Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur's criticism.

Arthur came hard at the Newlands wicket at the end of play on Friday while he also voiced his disapproval at the surface for the Boxing Day Test at Centurion.

He went on to say that the quality of pitches in the country had deteriorated since he was coach of the national side in 2010 and that the strip in Cape Town was not up to Test standard.

Arthur's concerns centre around inconsistent bounce on days one and two of a Test, thus not providing an even contest between bat and ball.

Batsmen at Newlands, though, have thrived.

Faf du Plessis scored a century in South Africa's first innings while there were three other Proteas half-centuries and, on day three on Saturday, Pakistan gave easily their best batting performance of the series with Asad Shafiq (88), Babar Azam (72) and Shan Masood (61) all helping the visitors to an impressive 294 all out.

Speaking after the day's play, Rabada told media that if batsmen stuck it out on South African wickets, there were runs to be had.

"I think the pitches have done quite a bit, but I also feel that when a batsman has applied himself, he has scored runs," he said, before listing the Proteas' most recent home series as examples.

"Right from India, through to Australia and now against Pakistan. It shows that when you're prepared to fight in the middle you will get runs.

"Faf got a hundred, there were two 70s with Aiden (Markram) and Temba (Bavuma) and a 50 from Quinton (De Kock).

"Even at Centurion Imam-ul-Haq batted well and Shan Masood batted well and he batted well again today.

"There have been runs and it shouldn't be too easy to score runs in Test cricket.

"It shows that if you knuckle down, you can score runs. I don't feel the wickets have been too bad."

South Africa need just 41 runs to win the second Test - and the series - at Newlands on Sunday, and when they do they will have made it seven home series wins in a row.

"At home we want to be unbeaten," Rabada said.

"It's something that we want to take forward but, ultimately, our goal is to the No 1 team in the world.

"We want to make this a fortress and so far, so good. We want to also win overseas. It's what the past players have done and it's important to us too."

 

[Ab Fan]

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/P...-test-runs-arent-supposed-to-be-easy-20190105

Rabada defends SA pitches: Test runs aren't supposed to be easy
2019-01-05 21:04


Lloyd Burnard - Newlands
Cape Town - Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada has defended the state of South African Test wickets following Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur's criticism.

Arthur came hard at the Newlands wicket at the end of play on Friday while he also voiced his disapproval at the surface for the Boxing Day Test at Centurion.

He went on to say that the quality of pitches in the country had deteriorated since he was coach of the national side in 2010 and that the strip in Cape Town was not up to Test standard.

Arthur's concerns centre around inconsistent bounce on days one and two of a Test, thus not providing an even contest between bat and ball.

Batsmen at Newlands, though, have thrived.

Faf du Plessis scored a century in South Africa's first innings while there were three other Proteas half-centuries and, on day three on Saturday, Pakistan gave easily their best batting performance of the series with Asad Shafiq (88), Babar Azam (72) and Shan Masood (61) all helping the visitors to an impressive 294 all out.

Speaking after the day's play, Rabada told media that if batsmen stuck it out on South African wickets, there were runs to be had.

"I think the pitches have done quite a bit, but I also feel that when a batsman has applied himself, he has scored runs," he said, before listing the Proteas' most recent home series as examples.

"Right from India, through to Australia and now against Pakistan. It shows that when you're prepared to fight in the middle you will get runs.

"Faf got a hundred, there were two 70s with Aiden (Markram) and Temba (Bavuma) and a 50 from Quinton (De Kock).

"Even at Centurion Imam-ul-Haq batted well and Shan Masood batted well and he batted well again today.

"There have been runs and it shouldn't be too easy to score runs in Test cricket.

"It shows that if you knuckle down, you can score runs. I don't feel the wickets have been too bad."

South Africa need just 41 runs to win the second Test - and the series - at Newlands on Sunday, and when they do they will have made it seven home series wins in a row.

<B>"At home we want to be unbeaten," Rabada said.</B>

"It's something that we want to take forward but, ultimately, our goal is to the No 1 team in the world.

"We want to make this a fortress and so far, so good. We want to also win overseas. It's what the past players have done and it's important to us too."

Rabada knows what it takes to be a top team in this era.

 

[Hawkeye]

Rabada knows what it takes to be a top team in this era.

) ) )

But, over all, Rabada is right.

You just cannot and should not complain about the pitches. IND dishes out dust bowls. England gives green mambas.

In the UAE, it's lifeless until day 4 and 5 where it breaks and turns like crazy.

So, SA have EVEYY RIGHT to prepare the way they want, give bowlers a chance. We're only complaining because we're being schooled.

If it was IND at the receiving end, we would've been celebrating.

 

[Savak]

Have to agree with this. This is what real test cricket and international cricket is all about. It all looks good and dandy to hit fours and sixes in subcontinental conditions but then prove you can take blows to the body in South Africa and score runs here.

Our second innings batting from the likes of Masood, Shafiq and Babar was much better

 

[Ab Fan]

) ) )

But, over all, Rabada is right.

You just cannot and should not complain about the pitches. IND dishes out dust bowls. England gives green mambas.

In the UAE, it's lifeless until day 4 and 5 where it breaks and turns like crazy.

So, SA have EVEYY RIGHT to prepare the way they want, give bowlers a chance. We're only complaining because we're being schooled.

If it was IND at the receiving end, we would've been celebrating.

The real test for SA at home will be when they are facing England. England have done well when SA had some quality players. So, this time things will be tougher for SA.

Away from home, there are lots of issues to be worked on. Particularly in Asia, the bowling ain't the same and SA current batters aren't capable enough vs spin. As a result of which, they are struggling to even save tests in Asia, let alone win one.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Would be great if you guys stopped crying like kids when you come to the subcontinent. The pitches that SA have prepared recently are on average worse than what they faced in the SC.

The ICC has a clear bias towards marking SC pitches as 'poor' for excessive spin/uneven bounce vs. SENA pitches for excessive seam movement/bounce.

 

[jagatk]

I hope he and his captain remember this when they come to India in October.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I hope he and his captain remember this when they come to India in October.

While making this statement he didn’t remember the way his captain whinged when they were getting steamrolled in SL. How can you expect him to remember this next time in India?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Exactly, KG. Hopefully your great captain and your fellow bowlers won't complain when you come over to India later this year.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Would be great if you guys stopped crying like kids when you come to the subcontinent. The pitches that SA have prepared recently are on average worse than what they faced in the SC.

The ICC has a clear bias towards marking SC pitches as 'poor' for excessive spin/uneven bounce vs. SENA pitches for excessive seam movement/bounce.

Spot on !!!

Hope Saffers stop whining the next time they step foot in the subcontinent. We had 3 home test pitches rated poor in matches against them in the last 12 years, mainly due to their incessant whining and cunning pressure tactics. In the same period 0 poor pitches against Eng, NZ, Lanka, WI, Ban, Pak and only 1 against Australia (Pune 2017).

Kanpur 2008 (http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14065/scorecard/332913/india-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08) was a better pitch than almost every single pitch SA laid out for the recently touring Asian teams and Nagpur/Mohali were no worse than their green mambas which escaped ICC scrutiny.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Last year this happened: Faf unhappy with Sri Lanka pitches

https://www.sportsclub.co.za/faf-unhappy-with-sri-lanka-pitches/

 

[Khwaja78]

Their country their rules. Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali played here before, no excuses for their game.

 

[shah_1]

They should stop moaning when they go to SC

 

[jadaja]

Rabada, wickets for bowlers also need to be earned .I am sorry but guy like Philander cannot have atg great stats.

 

[Fahdi]

I agree people shouldn't complain too much about pitches. It's called home team advantage, deal with it.

But I will say 2 things:

First I don't appreciate cracks. Make a fast, bouncing and seaming pitch go ahead, it may even crack later on but having cracks in the beginning just make for a lottery. If it hits the crack the batsmen can't do anything. There can also be injuries, Amla might have been in some very serious trouble if the bowler had more pace.

Secondly South Africa have moaned about pitches themselves, so they might want to remember this.

Oh and if runs are supposed to be hard then are wickets supposed to come easy? Come on Rabada.

 

[barah_admi]

I agree with rabada. The ball has talked and few batsmen have listened.

 

[Abdullah719]

South Africa vs Pakistan: Du Plessis says he's a fan of Tests and lively pitches

CAPE TOWN: Faf du Plessis said on Sunday that Test matches were cricket's most exciting format after his side clinched their series against Pakistan with a nine-wicket win on the fourth day at Newlands on Sunday.

The South African captain disagreed with Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur's criticism of the pitches for the first two Tests, both won by South Africa in less than four days.

South Africa needed just 48 minutes and 9.5 overs to score the 41 runs needed on Sunday to score a second successive win - and a seventh successive home series victory.

Du Plessis said lively surfaces and an attacking mindset, encouraged by Twenty20 cricket, had helped make Test cricket exciting.
"There are not a lot of Test matches that are going five days around the world anymore," he said.

"The speed of play has gone up tremendously. Test cricket has evolved and it is great for the fans. They are getting fours, sixes, lots of wickets and pace bowlers bowling. Test cricket for me the last few years has been the most exciting format of all."

Du Plessis said the pitch at Newlands had been challenging on the first two days but there were rewards for batsmen.

"If Pakistan batted well yesterday (Saturday), today and tomorrow would have been good batting wickets. It flattened out and the ball got soft. It was tough on day two but we scored close to 400 runs," he said.

The South African captain felt Pakistan had missed a chance to put pressure on the hosts by failing to capitalise on a sparkling third wicket stand between Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq on Saturday. The tourists reached 159 for two but were bowled out for 294, leaving South Africa an easy target.

"They had an opportunity to get 150 (ahead) on the board but we did really well after tea, making sure we did not let the opposition get back in the game," he said.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the loss of five wickets on the first morning after his side was sent in had put Pakistan in a position from which it was difficult to recover.

A first innings total of 177 was not enough to put pressure on the South African batsmen, a situation made worse by what Sarfraz described as a poor bowling performance.

"Our bowling was not up to the mark," said Sarfraz. "Our bowling average speed was 130 (kilometres an hour), South Africa were bowling at 145. Our bowling was far better (in the first Test) in Centurion."

Apart from being down on pace, Sarfraz said the Pakistan bowlers delivered too many loose balls to provide scoring opportunities for the South African batsmen.

Sarfraz acknowledged that a single warm-up game had not been enough to prepare Pakistan for South African conditions but he took heart from the second innings in which Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam scored impressive half-centuries.

"That is how you play Test cricket," he said. "We are getting better day by day. Hopefully we will do well in Johannesburg. We have nothing to lose."

South Africa lost a wicket and added another injury concern before Dean Elgar struck part-time bowler Azhar Ali for two boundaries to finish the match.

Theunis de Bruyn, opening in place of Aiden Markram, who suffered a badly bruised right thigh while fielding, made only four before he was caught off his glove by Sarfraz while attempting to pull a bouncer from Mohammad Abbas.

Hashim Amla was forced to retire hurt on two after being hit on the right upper arm by a ball from Mohammad Amir which lifted sharply off a good length.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ely-pitches/articleshow/67406827.cms?from=mdr

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Spot on !!!

Hope Saffers stop whining the next time they step foot in the subcontinent. We had 3 home test pitches rated poor in matches against them in the last 12 years, mainly due to their incessant whining and cunning pressure tactics. In the same period 0 poor pitches against Eng, NZ, Lanka, WI, Ban, Pak and only 1 against Australia (Pune 2017).

Kanpur 2008 (http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14065/scorecard/332913/india-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08) was a better pitch than almost every single pitch SA laid out for the recently touring Asian teams and Nagpur/Mohali were no worse than their green mambas which escaped ICC scrutiny.

I'm not super familiar with individual India matches, but Pune apart I never felt like the Indian pitches were unfair. If anything, the team that got the worst pitches were NZ, and they took it on the chin like the gents they were.

 

[MP2011]

Rabada and SA team is such a bunch of hypocrites!!

So only green mambas are good cricket pitches? Are spinners and their art is not part of cricket? Shouldn't succeeding on them be treated as equal?

 

[MP2011]

Last year this happened: Faf unhappy with Sri Lanka pitches

https://www.sportsclub.co.za/faf-unhappy-with-sri-lanka-pitches/

SA has been serial offender in sooking about pitches. lol, they even sooked about their own pitch last year! Now try to beat that!

 

[Buffet]

Test wickets are not supposed to be easy. That needs to be remembered in future when non pacer friendly pitches are served. All kids of pitches are fine. That's what makes cricket interesting.

 

[MP2011]

Test wickets are not supposed to be easy. That needs to be remembered in future when non pacer friendly pitches are served. All kids of pitches are fine. That's what makes cricket interesting.

This!

And that applies to all cricket teams and not just subcon teams!

 

[Saviking]

Rabada and SA team is such a bunch of hypocrites!!

So only green mambas are good cricket pitches? Are spinners and their art is not part of cricket? Shouldn't succeeding on them be treated as equal?

You guys seem to forget, that SA has gone through a 5 year drought until recently, Cape Town Being the worst affected. With the India tour even the South Africans were not happy with the pitches, and the Wanderers pitch were rated poor and given a warning.

Due to the drought it has been very difficult to keep the pitches consistent over the last few years, and there was a marked change in behavior of the pitches during this time. The uneven and sometimes dangerous behavior of the ball in the series against India was not planned, but was a result of years of drought. India spinners had a lot of help from Day 1 on these pitches, which shows that it was not traditional pitches. And because of all the spin from day 1 is why many people in SA said these pitches were almost "subcontinental" in its behavior.
I cannot remember one person in SA who were happy with the pitches in the India series.

Traditionally the SA pitches are fast, bouncy with seam movement of the deck... but rarely did it have uneven bounce as seen over last few years. Traditional SA pitches used to support good seam bowling for first 3 days and allowing spinners to have an effect on day 4 and 5.

And about the complaining about Indian pitches in the last tour, those pitches were a lot different that ones in SA tours to India before that last tour. They even made South Africa's part time spinners look like world beaters.

Rabada did not say only Green Mambas are good pitches.... he just said the current pitch is not as bad as Arthur says, because there were a lot of runs made on it and that test cricket should not be easy for batters. And bowlers get tested just as much in test cricket as they have to have endurance to be successful, being able to bowl for hours and sometimes days, which is anything but easy. At least test cricket give bowlers a proper chance to show what they can do unlike limited overs cricket.
I guess some people are so used to seeing batters having an 80/20 advantage over bowlers that when bowlers get a bit more advantage they cry conspiracy.

Test cricket is not T20 and ODI where batters get all the help in the world and bowlers end up being mere "bowling machines"

And about the person who claims Philander only have great stats because of these so-called monster green mamba pitches, know very little about bowling it seems.
The reason Philander is so successful with his Medium Fast pace is because he is frustratingly accurate with his line. Once he finds a good line he puts ball after ball on that line, meaning that batters cannot afford to make many mistakes or get away with bad shots at his pace. He has quite a large percentage of LBW's because of his accurate line, ball after ball. That is what sets him apart from other bowlers at his pace.


In conclusion, SA pitches are not perfect right now, but to claim that the only reason subcontinent teams do not play well there is because the pitches are "doctored" sounds of sour grapes and a lack of understanding of SA conditions over the last few years and how pitches behave there traditionally.

It's funny how this supposedly "pathetic" lineup of South Africa (according to some posters) still seem to be able to beat the likes of India, Australia and Pakistan. If they were so pathetic, such doctored pitches will count against them instead of help them against teams like India

 

[Varun]

The very fact that he has to come out and defend the pitches tells the story.

 

[Balthazar]

Haha what a turn around. Kohli and Shastri have taught these South Africans some valuable lessons. These same players were crying about the pitch when they last toured India.

 

[soso_killer]

The level of moaning ever since Durban was taken away from Asian sides is palpable. Guess what Australia came here and struggled themselves, crossed 300 just once (like India did, like Pakistan should have in Cape Town). Australia had the tail to convert 160/6 to 255 all out, that's the difference. They didn't moan about the pitches.

When the opposition score at 5 runs an over, a rate they don't even touch at home (in any country in Asia for that matter) and still moan about the wicket? What am I missing here? Steyn, Rabada, Olivier and Vern all went at over 3 to the over. Few loos screws here.

 

[Varun]

The level of moaning ever since Durban was taken away from Asian sides is palpable. Guess what Australia came here and struggled themselves, crossed 300 just once (like India did, like Pakistan should have in Cape Town). Australia had the tail to convert 160/6 to 255 all out, that's the difference. They didn't moan about the pitches.

Australia were romping their way to yet another series win in South Africa until sandpapergate bubbled to the surface. They shot themselves in the foot with that one. South Africa haven't won a home series against Australia ever otherwise.

 

[Mamoon]

It was a very good wicket. We are just grossly incompetent.

I would back India and England to win in South Africa against this team.

 

[Sidilicious]

The level of moaning ever since Durban was taken away from Asian sides is palpable. Guess what Australia came here and struggled themselves, crossed 300 just once (like India did, like Pakistan should have in Cape Town). Australia had the tail to convert 160/6 to 255 all out, that's the difference. They didn't moan about the pitches.

When the opposition score at 5 runs an over, a rate they don't even touch at home (in any country in Asia for that matter) and still moan about the wicket? What am I missing here? Steyn, Rabada, Olivier and Vern all went at over 3 to the over. Few loos screws here.

Didn’t you lot do the same when you got blanked 3-0 in India?

As long as they can man up and not moan about the pitches, they can serve what they want. But I doubt this sorry lot would do that.

 

[Ab Fan]

There is nothing wrong with these pitches. Batsmen are absolutely incompetent. So, not much can be done there.

The weakest SA batting in last 50 years have managed to put 380 runs on board. Not sure what is the issue on about?

Only Johannesburg, 3rd test vs India was a poor pitch and hence rated quite fairly as a "poor pitch". Rest all have been good wickets.

For India, Nagpur and Pune were fairly rated as poor pitch as well. But apart from that, they have produced some really top quality pitches and their home domination has got absolutely nothing to do with the pitches. They would have smashed these mediocre spin playing teams at home on flat traditional Indian wickets as well.

 

[JattMaula]

Test runs should be hard to earn but not life threatening. Last year Faf was scared to set a foot on Johannesburg pitch.

Batsmen lives matter.

 

[MP2011]

Last year Faf was scared to set a foot on Johannesburg pitch.

Don't forget the tough cookie Elgar as well!

 

[JattMaula]

Don't forget the tough cookie Elgar as well!

Yes. I almost feared he would go kolpak in protest.

 

[hadi123]

He's right. SA managed to score enough runs. We're just pathetic.

 

[Pete Rose]

two games and twice the batting didnt score enough runs to put pressure on the saffers in the last innings. thats all that matters.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Are test runs in the SC easy or not?
Rabada at his best in tests 2 and 3, yet made to look like a novice before Shami/Umesh.
Cummins is a far far greater bowler than him.