Pitches for India-Australia series - Flat or Turners?

[sensible-indian-fan]

The problem with flatties is if Warner and Smith get going, we may end up chasing a big 1st innings score.

Starc if he gets it right can be real trouble. He is a bit of a moody bowler.

 

[R0H1T]

India have no choice, they have to prepare turners. Their bowlers cannot compete with the Aus bowlers on flat tracks.

Ten tests since 2004 say otherwise, Ind have never been outbowled by Aus across two innings in a test whether they bat first or second irrespective of batting/seaming/turning tracks. In fact India seamers have outbowled their Aussie counterparts on seamer friendly tacks like Mohali, twice.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

If India prepare the same wickets as the ones they gave England, I wouldn't be surprised to see Aus win a few Tests.

Lol unless we get a Nagpur(2004) like track Australia would surprise everyone to win one test let alone a "few".

 

[Stallion__]

Won't have any effect on the result. Although I want atleast one khaalis rank turner. It's fun to watch cricket on such pitches these days.

 

[Hasan123]

The problem with flatties is if Warner and Smith get going, we may end up chasing a big 1st innings score.

Starc if he gets it right can be real trouble. He is a bit of a moody bowler.

Good point about flat tracks, if Warner can bat 2/3 sessions on a flat track Australia will post a decent score. Actually looking forward to this series for some reason. Hope we get some good and close games.

 

[aloo paratha]

I wanna see a turner, can't wait to see another under 100 score for Australia!!

 

[Chrish]

Wouldn't matter in the end

 

[Aman]

Lol unless we get a Nagpur(2004) like track Australia would surprise everyone to win one test let alone a "few".

Warner, Smith, Hazlewood and Starc are more than capable of performing on a SC flat deck.

 

[Buffet]

Flat decks like Eng series will even the odds a bit and I want to see Aus batting on those surfaces.

In general I want to see turning tracks in any series in india, just like I want to see bouncing pitches in Aus. But Aus on turning tracks will get boring to watch. They have lost every game in recent years in Asia so flat deck will be good to see. May be Aus can bat big and then some games will be interesting.

 

[Buffet]

Warner, Smith, Hazlewood and Starc are more than capable of performing on a SC flat deck.

Flat decks in india will be still different than flat decks in Aus due to difference in bounce. Having said that, not only those 4 players, some other batsmen can also contribute if turn is missing. If pitches turn then Aus batting will not look good.

 

[Chrish]

people fail to realize that flat tracks in Aus and flat tracks in asia ain't the same.. hence the torrid record of Oz in UAE

 

[JaDed]

The one we had in Mumbai against Eng is right one,our batsmen can also play and Aussies can also dance or one/two of them can fire as well.

 

[MMHS]

Both in one surface.

When Australia will bat, it'll be rank turner; when India will bat, it'll be flat belter.

 

[cricketjoshila]

India should lay out turners.The reason is simple.We laid out turners for SA and even the likes of ABDV were made to dance.Then we laid out flat pitches for Eng and even Moeen Ali got 2 centuries and Root was not even tested.10 years down the line on basis of this someone will claim that Ali and Root were better players of spin than ABDV.

Spinning pitches will keep the standard of test same,then we can perhaps see the spin playing ability of Smith Warner etc.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Absolutely true.

Batsmen hardly got tested in that Eng series.

Kohli's knocks were hailed for his ability to play under immense scoreboard pressure. Not quality of batsmanship in tough conditions or opponents.

Another way of thinking is that since we are anyway likely to win....if we go for flat tracks, our spinners would improve in the long run. I mean, regardless of what anyone says, we need our spinners to click overseas too and support our pacers. So making them toil for wickets would force them to come up with ways to pick wickets.

For example, someone like Ashwin when he went to WI....he knew he faced a team full of right handed bats on pitches where it didn't spin much (barring early moisure in Sabina Park and the abandoned 4th test) and that forced him to go all out in flight because he knew that was the only way to go. Even Mishy boy started flighting it a lot in WI (unfortunately he didn't get results but that's another matter really).

When Ashwin came back to India, he stopped flighting it that much. Not one spell against NZ or Eng had the same consistent flight he exhibited in WI. He tried that flight for a few balls (Bairstow smashed one for 6..some were played off) but nothing much apart from that. Pretty poor approach if you ask me considering we didn't play in rank turners where massive flight may not be needed. Maybe flatties against Aus's rampaging bats will bring out that side in him and allow all our bowlers to really toil and win. Since we are winning, might as well make it tough for us. Bats will have a fun time though.

Just a thought.

Personally, want turners for humiliation and destruction but flatties have its advantages. Bowlers get to improve their skillset and batsmen get to boost stats and play under scoreboard pressure.

The one disadvantage of it would be impact batsmen's ability to play on challenging tracks and ability to cope when conditions are not in their favour.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Absolutely true.

Batsmen hardly got tested in that Eng series.

Kohli's knocks were hailed for his ability to play under immense scoreboard pressure. Not quality of batsmanship in tough conditions or opponents.

Another way of thinking is that since we are anyway likely to win....if we go for flat tracks, our spinners would improve in the long run. I mean, regardless of what anyone says, we need our spinners to click overseas too and support our pacers. So making them toil for wickets would force them to come up with ways to pick wickets.

For example, someone like Ashwin when he went to WI....he knew he faced a team full of right handed bats on pitches where it didn't spin much (barring early moisure in Sabina Park and the abandoned 4th test) and that forced him to go all out in flight because he knew that was the only way to go. Even Mishy boy started flighting it a lot in WI (unfortunately he didn't get results but that's another matter really).

When Ashwin came back to India, he stopped flighting it that much. Not one spell against NZ or Eng had the same consistent flight he exhibited in WI. He tried that flight for a few balls (Bairstow smashed one for 6..some were played off) but nothing much apart from that. Pretty poor approach if you ask me considering we didn't play in rank turners where massive flight may not be needed. Maybe flatties against Aus's rampaging bats will bring out that side in him and allow all our bowlers to really toil and win. Since we are winning, might as well make it tough for us. Bats will have a fun time though.

Just a thought.

Personally, want turners for humiliation and destruction but flatties have its advantages. Bowlers get to improve their skillset and batsmen get to boost stats and play under scoreboard pressure.

The one disadvantage of it would be impact batsmen's ability to play on challenging tracks and ability to cope when conditions are not in their favour.

This is a full fledged series against a major test playing nation. Not a time to try out things. Need to win at all cost

 

[Princejain191]

Turners over flat pitches everyday. Makes for more interesting contest. Ideally I would love Mumbai v Eng type tracks, can pick wickets if you bowl well and can score runs too. Not a Chennai'16 by any means. A Nagpur'15 would be more suitable than that, the only reason why a team loses on a Chennai type track is if they bat poor or come under scoreboard pressure which is definitely not compelling to watch.

Australia has a more than decent bowling unit with Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon and Keefe. Would be interesting to see the batsmen from both sides adjusting to the quality of bowlers. And we also usually get more reverse on the drier, turning pitches. Easy to scuff the ball up.

So a pitch where ideally, the scores are in 300-350 region in first innings and around 200 in 2nd half. The pitches will definitely wear out faster than they did vs England cos it will be March. 2

 

[Princejain191]

Absolutely true.

Batsmen hardly got tested in that Eng series.

Kohli's knocks were hailed for his ability to play under immense scoreboard pressure. Not quality of batsmanship in tough conditions or opponents.

Another way of thinking is that since we are anyway likely to win....if we go for flat tracks, our spinners would improve in the long run. I mean, regardless of what anyone says, we need our spinners to click overseas too and support our pacers. So making them toil for wickets would force them to come up with ways to pick wickets.

For example, someone like Ashwin when he went to WI....he knew he faced a team full of right handed bats on pitches where it didn't spin much (barring early moisure in Sabina Park and the abandoned 4th test) and that forced him to go all out in flight because he knew that was the only way to go. Even Mishy boy started flighting it a lot in WI (unfortunately he didn't get results but that's another matter really).

When Ashwin came back to India, he stopped flighting it that much. Not one spell against NZ or Eng had the same consistent flight he exhibited in WI. He tried that flight for a few balls (Bairstow smashed one for 6..some were played off) but nothing much apart from that. Pretty poor approach if you ask me considering we didn't play in rank turners where massive flight may not be needed. Maybe flatties against Aus's rampaging bats will bring out that side in him and allow all our bowlers to really toil and win. Since we are winning, might as well make it tough for us. Bats will have a fun time though.

Just a thought.

Personally, want turners for humiliation and destruction but flatties have its advantages. Bowlers get to improve their skillset and batsmen get to boost stats and play under scoreboard pressure.

The one disadvantage of it would be impact batsmen's ability to play on challenging tracks and ability to cope when conditions are not in their favour.

Disagree.

Uneven bounce and turn with close in fielders in Rajkot - 2nd inning. Virat made 49*. Would have lost that one had he not.
That 81 in Vishakapatnam with variable bounce and the swing Broad and Jimmy were getting was as good to watch as any in the series.
That 235 in Mumbai had everything that makes a good tough inning. Scoreboard pressure. Ball spinning and bouncing and despite the quality of spin bowlers - it was tough to play. Batting with last 4 to take India from "trailing by 100" to "lead of over 200" - with help ofcourse but wouldn't have been possible if not for Virat.

So yeah, not really that easy.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Disagree.

Uneven bounce and turn with close in fielders in Rajkot - 2nd inning. Virat made 49*. Would have lost that one had he not.
That 81 in Vishakapatnam with variable bounce and the swing Broad and Jimmy were getting was as good to watch as any in the series.
That 235 in Mumbai had everything that makes a good tough inning. Scoreboard pressure. Ball spinning and bouncing and despite the quality of spin bowlers - it was tough to play. Batting with last 4 to take India from "trailing by 100" to "lead of over 200" - with help ofcourse but wouldn't have been possible if not for Virat.

So yeah, not really that easy.

Barring a few instances and Mumbai, it wasn't that tough conditions wise. If Virat had it tough, then Joe Root and Moeen had it 10X more tougher facing far better bowlers.

Kohli's 49* was about intense pressure than pitch. We never would have collapsed on that pitch if not for pressure. Rahane got a grubber but apart from that it wasn't an unplayable pitch by any means. England scored 260-3 on the same pitch just that day.

Mumbai 235 was amazing and high quality knock. But the pitch was such that if you bowl well, its hard to play and if you bowl not so well, its easier to score runs (talking about first innings). Moeen and Rashid sprayed around a lot. Another knock which was more about pressure.

The 86 against England when Broad was rampaging was a high quality knock facing a top bowler in full form on a wearing pitch. That was a quality knock batsmanship wise.

Kohli's runs weren't easy. It was hard to get. But it wasn't got on some tough tracks to bat. Moreover he faced some very inconsistent spinners.

We can't have it both ways mate. Either the tracks were easy or tough.

And fact was it was easy.

Kohli's performance was more about pressure and consistency than batsmanship on tough tracks/bowlers.

 

[Aman]

Flat decks in india will be still different than flat decks in Aus due to difference in bounce. Having said that, not only those 4 players, some other batsmen can also contribute if turn is missing. If pitches turn then Aus batting will not look good.

I know the bounce will be lower, but those players IMO will be able to handle that. Warner performed quite well in the UAE, but failed to cash in on his starts. Smith is also another who can adjust to the lower bounce and score big, if Ashwin and Jadeja out of the equation, I won't be surprised to see either score big and then put under the pump with Starc and Hazlewood.

 

[R0H1T]

I know the bounce will be lower, but those players IMO will be able to handle that. Warner performed quite well in the UAE, but failed to cash in on his starts. Smith is also another who can adjust to the lower bounce and score big, if Ashwin and Jadeja out of the equation, I won't be surprised to see either score big and then put under the pump with Starc and Hazlewood.

Why would Jadeja & Ashwin be out of the equation? If it's keeping low then it'd be a repeat of Vizag, they'll just get more lethal with each passing hour. As for pacers apart from the spray gun Starc, he's still fairly inconsistent in tests, who's likely to blow Indian batters away on a flat deck? Even Starc will have to work doubly hard wrt efforts in SL, because we aren't SL (much batter lineup) & no Aussie pacer has wrecked an Indian lineup in India for eons, not even in 2004. The only pacer to have done that, in the last 2 decades, is Steyn & he's in a different class to any of the Aussie quicks.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

True but Gillespie did very well in 2004.

He was the main reason Aus won in India that time. 20 wickets at an average of 16 in 4 games.

 

[R0H1T]

True but Gillespie did very well in 2004.

He was the main reason Aus won in India that time. 20 wickets at an average of 16 in 4 games.

Yes but it was the scoreboard pressure & Warne having his best series in India till date, that made the biggest impact. Had India batted first in Bangalore or even Chennai I do believe we'd have won that series. For Aus quicks to have a material impact in this series, pretty much everything needs to fall in place for'em like in 2004.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yes but it was the scoreboard pressure & Warne having his best series in India till date, that made the biggest impact. Had India batted first in Bangalore or even Chennai I do believe we'd have won that series. For Aus quicks to have a material impact in this series, pretty much everything needs to fall in place for'em like in 2004.

Nah Warne was the supporting role in that series.

Gillespie was the star who struck at 39 SR while every other main bowler including McGrath struck at 60+ SR.

Aus came with a new strategy to target the stumps instead of the outside off channel that series.

 

[Pollack]

I don't see how Indian flat tracks would in impact be any different for ftbs of Australia. Many of them absolutely tramp down the bowling in IPL Smith(not ftb), Warner etc.I would have agreed if you said flat tracks of uae being different. If you mean our pitches would offer some help for spinners always then those are not true flat to begin with. Here flat tracks don't have bounce as much as Australia is true.But it is not as low as well.Indian pitches barring few offer normal bounce.Its difficult to adapt from low or normal bounce to higher but fairly simple to adopt to normal from higher. Low bounce adjustment is also difficult reason why Aussie don't do that well in use slow and low pitches.

 

[R0H1T]

Nah Warne was the supporting role in that series.

Gillespie was the star who struck at 39 SR while every other main bowler including McGrath struck at 60+ SR.

Aus came with a new strategy to target the stumps instead of the outside off channel that series.

I do remember that series very well, having seen it live for the most part. Jason was clearly the show stopper, but Warne was the second highest wicket taker from the first 3 tests & without his crucial wickets in the middle I doubt Aus would've won that series.

Warne's role often doesn't get mentioned purely because of the numbers, his impact though was second only to Gillespie in that series. He had more impact than Mcgrath IMO, stats don't really show what he did, like the wicket of VVS in first innings of Bangalore test or Sehwag in Chennai.

 

[RamLakhan]

Jadeja & Ashwin are rested for T20s to go full at Aussies

 

[Varun]

We should go for a full troll and give them 4 greentops.

We can still win 4-0, and Kumar will probably be MoS.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I do remember that series very well, having seen it live for the most part. Jason was clearly the show stopper, but Warne was the second highest wicket taker from the first 3 tests & without his crucial wickets in the middle I doubt Aus would've won that series.

Warne's role often doesn't get mentioned purely because of the numbers, his impact though was second only to Gillespie in that series. He had more impact than Mcgrath IMO, stats don't really show what he did, like the wicket of VVS in first innings of Bangalore test or Sehwag in Chennai.

Of course Warne played a big role too. To win a landmark series, a lot of players have to click and contribute to the win. Warne was impactful. If he had played the last game in rank turner, his series stats would have been a lot better too and Aus may have won that game too considering how close it went. Aus had their share of luck in that series but that's another topic.

The point was that that pacers played a huge role in that series win. The series was set up by Gillespie. SA too won a series in India 2-0 mainly with their pacers (though Boje got a 5fer in the in 2nd test). Quality pacers are what Western teams need to win a series in India.

2012 loss to spinners was an aberration because half of our team was over the hill and even there Anderson played a pivotal role in Kolkata.

 

[RamLakhan]

We should go for a full troll and give them 4 greentops.

We can still win 4-0, and Kumar will probably be MoS.

Just that we don't have solidity at the start. Rahul, Pujara and even Vijay (he is well past his prime) are vulnerable. We have to completely depend on seam bowlers then. In the past we were comfortable on any pitch because of Sehwag & Dravid at the top!

 

[Pollack]

We should go for a full troll and give them 4 greentops.

We can still win 4-0, and Kumar will probably be MoS.

Would be real fun. And competitive as well.

Vijay kohli rahane ashwin are decent on green tracks .

 

[R0H1T]

Of course Warne played a big role too. To win a landmark series, a lot of players have to click and contribute to the win. Warne was impactful. If he had played the last game in rank turner, his series stats would have been a lot better too and Aus may have won that game too considering how close it went. Aus had their share of luck in that series but that's another topic.

The point was that that pacers played a huge role in that series win. The series was set up by Gillespie. SA too won a series in India 2-0 mainly with their pacers (though Boje got a 5fer in the in 2nd test). Quality pacers are what Western teams need to win a series in India.

2012 loss to spinners was an aberration because half of our team was over the hill and even there Anderson played a pivotal role in Kolkata.

So, what were we discussing again? Oh yes, Starc being made a bigger threat than he is IMO. In that repect the one fast bowler who's done a number on us, in India, is Steyn & Marshall before that. Everyone else has had good support from either seamers or spinners (or both) from the other end, so "akela chana kya bhaad jhokega" is quite apt in this case, Starc being the only chana

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

So, what were we discussing again? Oh yes, Starc being made a bigger threat than he is IMO. In that repect the one fast bowler who's done a number on us, in India, is Steyn & Marshall before that. Everyone else has had good support from either seamers or spinners (or both) from the other end, so "akela chana kya bhaad jhokega" is quite apt in this case, Starc being the only chana

Haha....we ain't discussing nothing yaar.

Just was responding to no Aussie pacer wreaking us....for which I replied Gillespie did that to us in 2004. Took a 9fer in Nagpur. Add that with 5 wickets in Bangalore and a 4fer in Mumbai. Even Steyn used to wreak us in one game per series in India while taking consistent scalps in the other tests.

As for this Aussie side, we are on the same page. I highly doubt if Aussie pacers could do anything major to us in Feb.

 

[R0H1T]

Haha....we ain't discussing nothing yaar.

Just was responding to no Aussie pacer wreaking us....for which I replied Gillespie did that to us in 2004. Took a 9fer in Nagpur. Add that with 5 wickets in Bangalore and a 4fer in Chennai. Even Steyn used to wreak us in one game per series in India while taking consistent scalps in the other tests.

As for this Aussie side, we are on the same page. I highly doubt if Aussie pacers could do anything major to us in Feb.

Went tangential, just a bit, but I still remember the umpiring howlers & P Patel's shoddy glovework that series. People attribute that win to how good Aus were, they were but it was kinda like the 2005 Ashes & that stray ball, except in our case there were many a stray balls.

The fact that Aus have won just 1 test series in India in 47 years tells you how monumental of a task it is, for them to even compete in India. But India has also given them & others, like WI of yore, a chance at rewriting cricketing history. Aus & India in that sense are very similar, you get out of this tour in one piece & you'll be a much better player/team forever.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Went tangential, just a bit, but I still remember the umpiring howlers & P Patel's shoddy glovework that series. People attribute that win to how good Aus were, they were but it was kinda like the 2005 Ashes & that stray ball, except in our case there were many a stray balls.

The fact that Aus have won just 1 test series in India in 47 years tells you how monumental of a task it is, for them to even compete in India. But India has also given them & others, like WI of yore, a chance at rewriting cricketing history. Aus & India in that sense are very similar, you get out of this tour in one piece & you'll be a much better player/team forever.

Yeah...absolutely. Test of fire really.

Personally, I never felt Aus completely outclassed us in 2004. Just caught us at a wrong time, had the chennai test washed off when we were on top and in fighting led to a green seamer in Nagpur.

With that being said, felt Aus deserved to win that series for their ruthless obsession, planning and execution.

 

[Princejain191]

Barring a few instances and Mumbai, it wasn't that tough conditions wise. If Virat had it tough, then Joe Root and Moeen had it 10X more tougher facing far better bowlers.

Kohli's 49* was about intense pressure than pitch. We never would have collapsed on that pitch if not for pressure. Rahane got a grubber but apart from that it wasn't an unplayable pitch by any means. England scored 260-3 on the same pitch just that day.

Mumbai 235 was amazing and high quality knock. But the pitch was such that if you bowl well, its hard to play and if you bowl not so well, its easier to score runs (talking about first innings). Moeen and Rashid sprayed around a lot. Another knock which was more about pressure.

The 86 against England when Broad was rampaging was a high quality knock facing a top bowler in full form on a wearing pitch. That was a quality knock batsmanship wise.

Kohli's runs weren't easy. It was hard to get. But it wasn't got on some tough tracks to bat. Moreover he faced some very inconsistent spinners.

We can't have it both ways mate. Either the tracks were easy or tough.

And fact was it was easy.

Kohli's performance was more about pressure and consistency than batsmanship on tough tracks/bowlers.

Buddy, agree most of these were decent pitches to bat on. Was just weighing on the fact that Virat's runs weren't hailed purely because of batting under scoreboard pressure, it was the quality of batsmanship - because it isn't just defending a swinging ball with soft hands, it is also about your defence vs spin when trying to save a match, your temperament in seeing off a plan by the opposition, dominating when the time is right and converting 50s into match-winning hundreds (re: Root) - plenty of all this was there. Ball wasn't just pinging the middle of the bat for every batsman, and there was some good quality bowling on display. And as you said, the innings were about pressure, which is a by-product of good bowling which again is possible on pitches that give something to the bowlers - not the Chennai decks.

And about the 10X tougher bowling England had to face, I am sorry dude but that is just unfair. On pitches other than in Mumbai, there was hardly any spin in the first innings of the series. This wasn't a Nagpur'15 case. And England batsmen simply failed to get 100's, that shows poorly on the batsmen - blaming it on the quality of bowling won't help.

Other apart from Virat were struggling in that Mumbai inning, but Virat just looked set. And the Rajkot 260-3 case for England I thought was due to many factors - Ashwin bowling outside leg stump, no close in fielders, England playing well and the case of Unlucky Umesh. Ball was spinning well throughout the final day. Never judge a pitch by the scorecard.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Buddy, agree most of these were decent pitches to bat on. Was just weighing on the fact that Virat's runs weren't hailed purely because of batting under scoreboard pressure, it was the quality of batsmanship - because it isn't just defending a swinging ball with soft hands, it is also about your defence vs spin when trying to save a match, your temperament in seeing off a plan by the opposition, dominating when the time is right and converting 50s into match-winning hundreds (re: Root) - plenty of all this was there. Ball wasn't just pinging the middle of the bat for every batsman, and there was some good quality bowling on display. And as you said, the innings were about pressure, which is a by-product of good bowling which again is possible on pitches that give something to the bowlers - not the Chennai decks.

And about the 10X tougher bowling England had to face, I am sorry dude but that is just unfair. On pitches other than in Mumbai, there was hardly any spin in the first innings of the series. This wasn't a Nagpur'15 case. And England batsmen simply failed to get 100's, that shows poorly on the batsmen - blaming it on the quality of bowling won't help.

Other apart from Virat were struggling in that Mumbai inning, but Virat just looked set. And the Rajkot 260-3 case for England I thought was due to many factors - Ashwin bowling outside leg stump, no close in fielders, England playing well and the case of Unlucky Umesh. Ball was spinning well throughout the final day. Never judge a pitch by the scorecard.

Ok maybe there is some misunderstanding.

Kohli's knocks had quality batsmanship involved as there were tough periods in various tests (involving spin & movement) that he negotiated well but predominantly these knocks were more about pressure handling and consistency than overcoming tough conditions/oppositions.

There were many bats from India who looked good in the series but none made it count the way Kohli did.

While England faced better bowlers, they were objectively poor this series considering the pitches. My point was if Kohli had it tough, they had it worse. Not saying they failed cos they had it tough. See where I am coming at?

For a failure series, Root averaged 49...Moeen Ali averaged 42....Bairstow averaged 44 and Stokes averaged 38 and ALL of them weren't really up to the mark (inspite of these averages). Root was good but couldn't convert starts.

This is all AFTER facing Ashwin, Jaddu and Jayant as well as Shami, Umesh on these pitches.

That should put things in perspective about how much batsmanship is required to succeed in these pitches MORE SO when your opponent is Moeen Ali, Rashid, Anderson, Woakes, Broad.

Kohli can only play using what is in front of him and he did what one could humanely hope for in that series. That's why he was hailed by all. But facing tough opponents on tough pitches in that series...that ain't the thing.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Indian Pitches For Australian Tour Surveillance Thread

Last 6 tests in India resulted in 3 pattas, 2 non turners and 1 high scoring turner.

Let's keep a track of how the pitches behave for the Aus series.

I think 3 out of 4 test venues are brand new so NO ONE knows what to expect from the pitches.

 

[R0H1T]

Except Ranchi I don't any "raging turner" kind of pitch offered in the series, even that is doubtful given the examples of Indore, Rajkot & Vizag who also hosted their first test.

 

[JaDed]

I hope they turn,they are not turning much nowadays.

 

[Varun]

Australia are going to get 4 flat roads and the likes of Warner are going to bat us out of the game.

Pujara will contribute with a handy 44 (168).

 

[sarthak]

Nothing wrong with the flat wickets, as long as they produce results. A great sight indeed to see the opposition make 400-500 and still lose by an innings.

Also keeps Indian pacers well and truly in the game and as long as there is some turn (which most indian pitches will have anyways), it should be fine.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Rank turners please. BCCI's TV broadcaster has made enough money with most of the last 9 tests going through to 5 days. Lets go bac to tests finishing in three - three and a half days. More spicier tracks with turn and bounce.

Will also be a good test to see if on such tracks, we can score 350-400 now.

But most like we will continue to see normal batting wickets playing true till day 5.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Australia are going to get 4 flat roads and the likes of Warner are going to bat us out of the game.

Pujara will contribute with a handy 44 (168).

Yes and people do forget that our batting is due a failure. If it is flat ,then bowlers will be cannon fodders.

 

[rhony]

I think everyone's making a mistake by underestimating Starc. I watched the SL series and he was fantastic. He has improved a lot in the last 18 months. No matter what the wicket is, he will reverse the ball at 145+. That's lethal for any batsman. Lyon shouldn't be underestimated either.

India can't get away by losing toss as they did against England. Man to man Aussie bowlers are much better than their English counter parts. The velnerability is in the Aussie middle order and that's where they will lose the series. A freak innings by Warner or Maxwell (If in the team) could turn the game around.

 

[ShoonyaSifar]

Australia are going to get 4 flat roads and the likes of Warner are going to bat us out of the game.

Pujara will contribute with a handy 44 (168).

Yeah and we will prostrate before them surrendering completely, right? Why do we underestimate our team so much?

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Folks, we do not control the pitches anymore. Neither Kohli nor BCCI have any control on curators now, expect flat and dry wickets for all venues except Dharmasala.

 

[cricket hero]

Ashwin averaged over 30 against England on the recent Indian pitches so the BCCI will ensure that their answer for the Indian public's hunger for a statistically great bowler has a much, much better series. Only way to do that is to go back to the rank turners India welcomed South Africa with, or even the milder pitches that the Kiwis got.

Australia has no chance in this series however, so it just depends on whether India wants it's batsmen to continue inflating their averages or go back to their bowlers doing the same.

India is not pakistan to depend on friendly wickets. But then pakistani batsmen fail even on flat tracks and pakistani bowlers r still average on seaming tracks.

 

[Drreddymd]

India is not pakistan to depend on friendly wickets. But then pakistani batsmen fail even on flat tracks and pakistani bowlers r still average on seaming tracks.

U can never win with that guy. If the indian batsman scores runs they r flat tracks and when bowlers take wickets they r dust bowls.

But when pak batsman scores runs any where it is a green mamba or bouncy pitch.

 

[R0H1T]

In other news, Indian & Pak seamers have comfortably outbowled their much vaunted pace counterparts, from down under, over the last few years in these conditions ~ http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1082578.html

Aus Seamers Home Seamers
Series Tests Wickets Average Wickets Average Ave Diff
Aus In SL, 2016 3 33 21.81 4 36.50 14.69
Aus V Pak (In UAE), 2014-15 2 10 64.60 9 31.88 -32.72
Aus In Ind, 2012-13 4 22 44.09 13 38.76 -5.33
Aus In SL, 2011 3 36 26.69 21 36.71 10.02
Aus In Ind, 2010-11 2 23 33.04 17 29.05 -3.99
Aus In Ind, 2008-09 4 37 46.59 26 33.88 -12.71
Overall 18 161 35.90 90 34.25 -1.65

 

[Bilal7]

India is not pakistan to depend on friendly wickets. But then pakistani batsmen fail even on flat tracks and pakistani bowlers r still average on seaming tracks.

Except that India's away record totally flushes this post of yours down the toilet. Try again.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

So we have an ultra flat track for Aussies to practice.

Freaking Shahbaz Nadeem was carted around on this pitch and he is a very good spinner.

Usually practice pitches and test pitches have been different but won't be surprised if this kind of patta finds it way into the main tests this time.

 

[Sin Nombre]

We would like to see turners but will see pattas.

Smith will score a lot of runs and Australia will draw a couple of matches and go back home thinking they competed in a tight series. And did the best of any visiting team.

And will return the favour when India come visiting again in 2018.

Boards are happy since all matches go the 5 days.

Most fans are happy seeing a lot of runs especially from the likes of Kohli/Smith.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

So we have an ultra flat track for Aussies to practice.

Freaking Shahbaz Nadeem was carted around on this pitch and he is a very good spinner.

Usually practice pitches and test pitches have been different but won't be surprised if this kind of patta finds it way into the main tests this time.

That bowling lineup is comical.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Turners please. I am sick of getting bowlers destroyed in LOI. It will be fun to see the batsmen dancing in test. Flat tracks should be banned, they're boring and waste of time.

 

[Statsman]

Absolute rank turner first up as per Cricinfo.

 

[Hasan123]

Thoughts on today's pitch?

 

[SunRay]

^Pathetic to say the least. But hats off to Australia, they have batted superbly.

 

[Bilal7]

Will be interesting to see the evolution of Indian pitches from absolute rank turners that assist Ashwin to flat roads that assist Kohli, in the course of one series.

Despite this, some people have the audacity to be offended when Indian pitches are criticized and the home achievements of Indian players are downplayed.

 

[Buffet]

Will be interesting to see the evolution of Indian pitches from absolute rank turners that assist Ashwin to flat roads that assist Kohli, in the course of one series.

How about in the course of one match itself? I won't be surprised if Kohli scores some runs here.

 

[Hasan123]

Will be interesting to see the evolution of Indian pitches from absolute rank turners that assist Ashwin to flat roads that assist Kohli, in the course of one series.

Despite this, some people have the audacity to be offended when Indian pitches are criticized and the home achievements of Indian players are downplayed.

For yourself the pitch will be a rank turner when Ashwin will bowl and than become a road when Kohli comes out to bat.

Ashwin gets wickets = rank turner

Kohli scores= flat pitch

Amla scores= rank turner or green mamba.


The double standards are crignegeworthy and embarrassing.

 

[Sidilicious]

Will be interesting to see the evolution of Indian pitches from absolute rank turners that assist Ashwin to flat roads that assist Kohli, in the course of one series.

Despite this, some people have the audacity to be offended when Indian pitches are criticized and the home achievements of Indian players are downplayed.

What if Kohli scores a 100 and Ash takes wickets in the same match?

 

[Bilal7]

What if Kohli scores a 100 and Ash takes wickets in the same match?

If Kohli scores a century here, he will have made an outstanding innings. He's a good batsman and quite capable of that.

For yourself the pitch will be a rank turner when Ashwin will bowl and than become a road when Kohli comes out to bat.

Ashwin gets wickets = rank turner

Kohli scores= flat pitch

Amla scores= rank turner or green mamba.


The double standards are crignegeworthy and embarrassing.

You are the embarrassment if you can't open your eyes and truthfully admit that this pitch is a rank turner. Maybe Kohli plays the innings of his life and gets a century here, that won't change the fact that Ashwin has received yet another rank turner to boost his stats.

How about in the course of one match itself? I won't be surprised if Kohli scores some runs here.

Well, these Indian curators will go to any length to make things easy for the home team. They've made pitches that were totally flat in the middle and dry at the ends, to help spinners and take pacers out of the equation.

 

[Hasan123]

If Kohli scores a century here, he will have made an outstanding innings. He's a good batsman and quite capable of that.



You are the embarrassment if you can't open your eyes and truthfully admit that this pitch is a rank turner. Maybe Kohli plays the innings of his life and gets a century here, that won't change the fact that Ashwin has received yet another rank turner to boost his stats.



Well, these Indian curators will go to any length to make things easy for the home team. They've made pitches that were totally flat in the middle and dry at the ends, to help spinners and take pacers out of the equation.

So if Kohli gets a century on this pitch what will you say?

It's not a rank turner btw, some balls have turned but if you apply yourself you can score runs.

Yadav has 4 wickets on this pitch . Your embarrassing yourself, you clearly haven't watched the game at all today. Later on in the match it might become a rank turner but as of now I wouldn't class it as a rank turner.

 

[Pollack]

So we have an ultra flat track for Aussies to practice.

Freaking Shahbaz Nadeem was carted around on this pitch and he is a very good spinner.

Usually practice pitches and test pitches have been different but won't be surprised if this kind of patta finds it way into the main tests this time.

I have a feeling S Nadeem is the Vinay Kumar of spinners. Good at domestics but will find difficult at internationals. Hope he proves me wrong though if he gets chance. Same for Rasool.

 

[Bilal7]

So if Kohli gets a century on this pitch what will you say?

It's not a rank turner btw, some balls have turned but if you apply yourself you can score runs.

Yadav has 4 wickets on this pitch . Your embarrassing yourself, you clearly haven't watched the game at all today. Later on in the match it might become a rank turner but as of now I wouldn't class it as a rank turner.

I don't have to explain myself to you, Hassan but I have already done so and I highly suggest you pay a little more attention to what you are reading.

"Normally, 256/9 is the bowling side's day, but this surface is a raging turner". Yes, I haven't watched the match but the cricinfo scorer gets paid to watch and comment on every delivery and this is his comment. You're getting exposed, either as a liar or as someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. You think a fast bowler can't take four wickets on a rank turner? Lol, SMH.

 

[Hasan123]

I don't have to explain myself to you, Hassan but I have already done so and I highly suggest you pay a little more attention to what you are reading.

"Normally, 256/9 is the bowling side's day, but this surface is a raging turner". Yes, I haven't watched the match but the cricinfo scorer gets paid to watch and comment on every delivery and this is his comment. You're getting exposed, either as a liar or as someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. You think a fast bowler can't take four wickets on a rank turner? Lol, SMH.

Well that's cricinfos opnion which they are entitled too. The period I watched of the game , a few balls turned but if you could see them off you would score runs. Lol if you look at the Australian batsman dismissals you will see they got themselves out rather than the nature of the pitch. Smith and Warner got themselves out. Same with Handscombe. If the pitch was so influential for spinners surely there would have been more dismissals due to the pitch.


Of course a fast bowler can get 4 wickets on a raging turner. I never said they cant so stop twising my words. Butif the pitch was turning as much as cricinfo and yourself make out, than how can a decent fast bowler like Yadav get 4 wickets and Ashwin on this rank turner not get more wickets?

 

[Pollack]

A disgusting pitch this indeed to boost Ashwin stats.It will be made flat tomorrow only when Kohli plays.As soon as non striker takes strike it will switch to be a turner or will assist swing. This is first test match where an artificial intelligence device is seemingly fit into the pitch with the blessings of Indian team management to mange pitch according to players and team.Apparently on first day it assisted spinners when spinners bowled and pacers when Umesh bowled. Tommorow it would be mostly flat because India would be batting or if management wants to make it more realistic only flat when Kohli batting.This was kept secret by bcci today and I am a whistle blower exclusively for PP'ers here today.

 

[Bilal7]

How about in the course of one match itself? I won't be surprised if Kohli scores some runs here.

What if Kohli scores a 100 and Ash takes wickets in the same match?

So if Kohli gets a century on this pitch what will you say?

It's not a rank turner btw, some balls have turned but if you apply yourself you can score runs.

Yadav has 4 wickets on this pitch . Your embarrassing yourself, you clearly haven't watched the game at all today. Later on in the match it might become a rank turner but as of now I wouldn't class it as a rank turner.

Kohli usually fails on tough pitches and today was yet another example. Ashwin though is going strong on this rank-turner, has three wickets already. Looks like the BCCI wants him to be the fastest to 300 test wickets.

 

[King Kong]

Kohli usually fails on tough pitches and today was yet another example. Ashwin though is going strong on this rank-turner, has three wickets already. Looks like the BCCI wants him to be the fastest to 300 test wickets.

What about 200 vs England on a Turner in Mumbai. Was that also flat?

 

[Bilal7]

What about 200 vs England on a Turner in Mumbai. Was that also flat?

Not flat but it was hardly a difficult pitch to score on.

 

[akki]

Not flat but it was hardly a difficult pitch to score on.

hahaha piche pd gya hai yeh bnda kohli or ashwin ke...

 

[Zak_Fan]

hahaha piche pd gya hai yeh bnda kohli or ashwin ke...

His frustration shows in his posts.

Can't call Indian pitches rank-turners or it will help Kohli's case.

Can't call them flat, as then it helps Ashwin's case.

 

[akki]

His frustration shows in his posts.

Can't call Indian pitches rank-turners or it will help Kohli's case.

Can't call them flat, as then it helps Ashwin's case.

na na bhai ko ek england tour v yaad hi....baki australia south africa ...new zealand... ya kahin b or fark ni pdta........i am surprised why people even reply to his posts....or take him serious ...he is a funny guy though

 

[Statsman]

Such spin tracks become a lottery eventually.

Reminds me of games against England in 2012 where Ishant would bowl one over and then Ashwin, Bhajji and Ojha would take over.

 

[Bilal7]

His frustration shows in his posts.

Can't call Indian pitches rank-turners or it will help Kohli's case.

Can't call them flat, as then it helps Ashwin's case.

Lol, what do you think I've been calling this pitch? Sad day for Indian fans. Keefe outbowled Ashwin and Lyon outbatted Kohli, on a pitch they doctored to further inflate their ego.

 

[Saurav]

We should go for a full troll and give them 4 greentops.

We can still win 4-0, and Kumar will probably be MoS.

Glad we didnt

 

[Aman]

Glad we didnt

If O'Keefe can do that to India on a turner, imagine what Hazlewood and Starc would do to them on a green top

 

[Justcrazy]

Ashwin failing with the bat helped Aussies , usually he plays well in such situations

 

[Pollack]

If O'Keefe can do that to India on a turner, imagine what Hazlewood and Starc would do to them on a green top

We will unleash Bhuvi.