South African Test pitches against Asian sides since 2017

[Swashbuckler]

vs Sri Lanka 2016-17

1st test Port Elizabeth
Total overs bowled in the match (roughly): 350

2nd test Cape Town
Total overs bowled: 273

3rd test Johannesburg
Total overs bowled: 212

vs Bangladesh 2017

1st test Potchefstroom
Total overs bowled: 323

2nd test Bloemfontein
Total overs bowled: 205

vs India 2018

1st test Cape Town
Total overs bowled: 230

2nd test Centurion
Total overs bowled: 347

3rd test Johannesburg
Total overs bowled: 295

vs Pakistan 2018-19

1st test Centurion
Total overs bowled: 163 (till end of 2nd day, 1 innings remaining)

Assuming the full quota of 90 overs is bowled every day with no rain/bad light interruptions, not a single match against SC side on South African soil has gone to 5th day. In fact most matches are getting over in effectively 3 days of action.

The recent non SC visitors to SA have been NZ, England and Australia. Checked those scorecards and almost all matches see 4-5 days action. There was a strange match against England which featured two 600+ scores with two 200s, one of them involving Ben Stokes who got a 200 ball 258 !!!!

I understand why they are doing it and have no complaint. In fact I love these low scoring matches where fast bowlers receive a lot of assistance. SA have made the conscious choice of nullifying Asian spinners, so be it. That is their home advantage and it is up to us to overcome that.

Compared to some of the above numbers, the much maligned (rated poor by ICC) 2015 Nagpur and Mohali tracks saw more overs (248, 251 respectively) while the decisive Delhi test in the same series saw 410 overs. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh do use home advantage but generally they also see plenty of action. UAE pitches almost always go to day 5.

Had a look through matches played in NZ, England and Australia and none of these countries see short matches like SA against specific opponents.

Should ICC have a talk with CSA that test cricket is a 5 day format and there must be an attempt to at least take the games to day 4 and beyond. Or is the blame on us Asian teams because we don't bat that well in SA (we do relatively better in the other non-Asian countries). Should ICC have a relook at their policy of pitch rating? It does seem that SC pitches are more likely to get poor rating.

The ICC pitch guidelines right now for rating a pitch 'poor'

Poor

If any of the following criteria apply, a pitch may be rated "poor":

a. The pitch offers excessive seam movement at any stage of the match

b. The pitch displays excessive unevenness of bounce for any bowler at any stage of the match

c. The pitch offers excessive assistance to spin bowlers, especially early in the match

d. The pitch displays little or no seam movement or turn at any stage in the match together with no significant bounce or carry, thereby depriving the bowlers of a fair contest between bat and ball.

I had a look through the pitches rated poor by ICC and almost all of them were because of excessive spin, a couple of them were because of flat nature of the pitch. Here's a related article http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/18788951/nine-deadly-pitches

As per ICC's own rules excessive seam and uneven bounce too should result in 'poor' rating but for now excessive spin remains the soft target. The Wanderers test early this year was the only one rated poor for unpredictable bounce, excessive seam played a smaller role. It doesn't even make sense because seam+bounce when unpredictable and excessive can injure batsmen, especially lower order. Too much spin may make batting difficult but no one risks being sent to the hospital.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Don’t let the idiocy of ICC destroy action packed tests - whether a green mamba or a minefield from day 1.

Yes at times, some of these excessive bowler friendly tracks become a bit of lottery but so be it. It’s engrossing to watch, much better than 5 day tests which end in draw.

 

[Ab Fan]

I don't think any of the pitch except the one at Johannesburg were close to be called "poor". Against India, Cape Town was fun and Centurion was a bit unusual, a wicket where both batsmen and bowlers had hard time but not a poor wicket.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan matches were mostly to do with poor batting sides from both end.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Match lasted total 213 overs, that is 7 sessions in a test match of 15 possible sessions . Spinner took only 1 out of 34 wickets to fall. Same template by SA curators against another SC side yet not a word about the pitch by commentators, no justification or whining. I also doubt Pakistani players will make any adverse comment about the pitch, opposite of what a SENA team would do if boot is on the other foot.

Discuss.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

This pitch was decent, imho. The batsmen who applied themselves were rewarded.

 

[AMSS]

This pitch was decent, imho. The batsmen who applied themselves were rewarded.

Batsmen who applied themselves in that Kanpur test were rewarded too. That didn't stop the then saffa coach mickey from complaining, and ICC ruling the pitch poor.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...a-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Batsmen who applied themselves in that Kanpur test were rewarded too. That didn't stop the then saffa coach mickey from complaining, and ICC ruling the pitch poor.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...a-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08

Reason: Too dry and too much turn and variable bounce

"It was a poor cricket wicket, though I can understand the reason behind it," South Africa's then coach Micky Arthur said. "But the practice facilities and the accommodation left a lot to be desired for an international venue."

Seems like he had a number of complaints.

 

[AMSS]

Reason: Too dry and too much turn and variable bounce

"It was a poor cricket wicket, though I can understand the reason behind it," South Africa's then coach Micky Arthur said. "But the practice facilities and the accommodation left a lot to be desired for an international venue."

Seems like he had a number of complaints.

He lost, so of course he had complaints. Having watched the match myself I know it was your regular Indian pitch. Look at the score card.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

He lost, so of course he had complaints. Having watched the match myself I know it was your regular Indian pitch. Look at the score card.

Well, it was rated poor. I'm unsure what you're on about... The topic refers to "since 2017", you're brining up a match from 2008.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pitch used for 1st test vs pakistan was fine, we just saw two good bowling line ups and to average batting line ups make an exciting game off it.

 

[AMSS]

Well, it was rated poor. I'm unsure what you're on about... The topic refers to "since 2017", you're brining up a match from 2008.

My reply wasn't to the OP though. Rather your flippant remark that batsmen who applied themselves got rewarded. My point was that batsmen being rewarded hasn't stopped pitches from being rated poor.

 

[barah_admi]

Match lasted total 213 overs, that is 7 sessions in a test match of 15 possible sessions . Spinner took only 1 out of 34 wickets to fall. Same template by SA curators against another SC side yet not a word about the pitch by commentators, no justification or whining. I also doubt Pakistani players will make any adverse comment about the pitch, opposite of what a SENA team would do if boot is on the other foot.

Discuss.

I did not see enough of the match to comment on the pitch but from the highlights I watched, there were moments of uneven bounce. I assume how "poor" a pitch is would be based on the quantity of such qualities, so how much uneven bounce was there and did it happens all the way throughout?

 

[cricketindiafan]

SA almost had another loss on a track with lot of help for bowlers.

Interesting to see if they persist with spicy pitches. My sense is they will as they now have Philander back as well, so they can go with an all pace attack.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

My reply wasn't to the OP though. Rather your flippant remark that batsmen who applied themselves got rewarded. My point was that batsmen being rewarded hasn't stopped pitches from being rated poor.

Ah. Well, the pitch you're referring to had 3 reasons listed for the poor grade, Mickey had a few complaints, and it appeared in an article titled "Nine deadly pitches". I doubt it was done just willy nilly. If that is what you deem a "regular Indian pitch" then hats off to you.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Batsmen who applied themselves in that Kanpur test were rewarded too. That didn't stop the then saffa coach mickey from shrieking like a stuck swine, and ICC ruling the pitch poor.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...a-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08

Mohali 2015 pitch received a lot of brickbats. Vijay scored 75+47, Pujara 31+77, Amla 43, Villiers 63. Pacers there got more wickets than what spinners got in many recent matches in SA.

Pune 2017 was rated poor. Smith scored 109, Renshaw 68, Rahul 65, Starc 61, even Warner who always has a tough time in India scored 38.

The Kanpur match you referred to had plenty of 50s, Ganguly almost scored a ton.

There was a test match in Galle between Sri Lanka and Australia in 2011 that was rated poor because of excessive spin. Hussey and Mathews scored 95 each while Mahela scored a century. Quicks got more wickets than spinners. In the 4th innings Ryan Harris got a match winning 5fer and Aussie quicks took 9 out of 10 wickets. The match referee Chris Broad rated it poor saying that it favored spinners (who took 19 out of 40 wickets to fall) too much. This assessment was based on Herath's 8 wicket match haul and Lyon's 5fer on debut. This was a bizarre chain of events and the Galle curator didn't deserve the punishment.

In all these matches pacers had something in the pitch. In this Centurion test 2 world class spinners in Yasir Shah and Maharaj have been relegated to roles of spectators.

ICC should either stop harassing Indian and Sri Lankan curators or apply their rules equally for all. They can't say excessive seam or uneven bounce is good and excessive spin is bad.

 

[ikky47]

Mohali 2015 pitch received a lot of brickbats. Vijay scored 75+47, Pujara 31+77, Amla 43, Villiers 63. Pacers there got more wickets than what spinners got in many recent matches in SA.

Pune 2017 was rated poor. Smith scored 109, Renshaw 68, Rahul 65, Starc 61, even Warner who always has a tough time in India scored 38.

The Kanpur match you referred to had plenty of 50s, Ganguly almost scored a ton.

There was a test match in Galle between Sri Lanka and Australia in 2011 that was rated poor because of excessive spin. Hussey and Mathews scored 95 each while Mahela scored a century. Quicks got more wickets than spinners. In the 4th innings Ryan Harris got a match winning 5fer and Aussie quicks took 9 out of 10 wickets. The match referee Chris Broad rated it poor saying that it favored spinners (who took 19 out of 40 wickets to fall) too much. This assessment was based on Herath's 8 wicket match haul and Lyon's 5fer on debut. This was a bizarre chain of events and the Galle curator didn't deserve the punishment.

In all these matches pacers had something in the pitch. In this Centurion test 2 world class spinners in Yasir Shah and Maharaj have been relegated to roles of spectators.

ICC should either stop harassing Indian and Sri Lankan curators or apply their rules equally for all. They can't say excessive seam or uneven bounce is good and excessive spin is bad.

Good post. I believe it’s double standards when it comes to Asian pitches compared to non Asian pitches. This centurion pitch and the one India got in Jo’burg we’re both inadequate.

 

[jagatk]

Mohali 2015 pitch received a lot of brickbats. Vijay scored 75+47, Pujara 31+77, Amla 43, Villiers 63. Pacers there got more wickets than what spinners got in many recent matches in SA.

Pune 2017 was rated poor. Smith scored 109, Renshaw 68, Rahul 65, Starc 61, even Warner who always has a tough time in India scored 38.

The Kanpur match you referred to had plenty of 50s, Ganguly almost scored a ton.

There was a test match in Galle between Sri Lanka and Australia in 2011 that was rated poor because of excessive spin. Hussey and Mathews scored 95 each while Mahela scored a century. Quicks got more wickets than spinners. In the 4th innings Ryan Harris got a match winning 5fer and Aussie quicks took 9 out of 10 wickets. The match referee Chris Broad rated it poor saying that it favored spinners (who took 19 out of 40 wickets to fall) too much. This assessment was based on Herath's 8 wicket match haul and Lyon's 5fer on debut. This was a bizarre chain of events and the Galle curator didn't deserve the punishment.

In all these matches pacers had something in the pitch. In this Centurion test 2 world class spinners in Yasir Shah and Maharaj have been relegated to roles of spectators.

ICC should either stop harassing Indian and Sri Lankan curators or apply their rules equally for all. They can't say excessive seam or uneven bounce is good and excessive spin is bad.

Could not agree more with this, ICC referees have a real SENA blindness, If it spins too much it is unfair but hey put in a pitch where you can't separate pitch from the outfield it is a fantastic test wicket. The Perth game was basically decided on toss, Aussie openers batted in the only part of the play where pitch did nothing, Indians played mostly on a pitch which was up and down, this mcg pitch again it was basically a uneven bounce fest screwing batsmen, there isn't skill in it folks its a coin toss.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Next is Newlands, Cape Town. Match lasted 273 overs against Sri Lanka (2017) and 230 overs against India (2018). What is in store for Pakistan? I think the trend will continue and we will see the match decided in effectively 2-3 days. No need for Yasir one would think.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Well doesn't seem like this match will go beyond 3 days either.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Can we have a split for overs bowled or runs made during games Vs Asian sides against those during games Vs ENA

 

[Swashbuckler]

Can we have a split for overs bowled or runs made during games Vs Asian sides against those during games Vs ENA

In the last 3 years, from SENA England and Australia have toured for long series. NZ played 1 test (another washed out) and it lasted some 320 overs.

Approx figures (overs bowled)

England: 355, 400 (called off early by captains because boring draw, featured 2 600+ scores), 235, 355

Australia: 330, 295, 320, 355

 

[Swashbuckler]

Match scores by ENA in SA (d=declaration, * indicates successful 4th innings run chase or not dismissed scenario):

NZ: 481d, 214, 132d, 195

Eng

303, 214, 326, 174

629d, 627d, 159* (draw agreed early in advance)

313, 323, 83, 74*

475, 342, 248d, 101

Aus

351, 162, 227, 298

243, 382, 239, 102*

311, 255, 373, 107

488, 221, 344d, 119

 

[Swashbuckler]

UPDATE:

vs Pakistan 2018-19

1st test Centurion
Total overs bowled: 213 (7 sessions)
Total wickets to fall: 34
Number of wickets for spinners: 1

2nd test Cape Town
Total overs bowled: 256 (8.5 sessions)
Total wickets to fall: 31
Number of wickets for spinners: 0


Now ICC match officials, experts and SA fans have consumed fevicol. Apparently it is only those pesky Asians that indulge in the dark arts. Only the white and black folk play the sport fair because their hearts are pure like the source of River Ganga.

 

[The Viper]

UPDATE:

vs Pakistan 2018-19

1st test Centurion
Total overs bowled: 213 (7 sessions)
Total wickets to fall: 34
Number of wickets for spinners: 1

2nd test Cape Town
Total overs bowled: 256 (8.5 sessions)
Total wickets to fall: 31
Number of wickets for spinners: 0


Now ICC match officials, experts and SA fans have consumed fevicol. Apparently it is only those pesky Asians that indulge in the dark arts. Only the white and black folk play the sport fair because their hearts are pure like the source of River Ganga.

Faf has nor right to be critical of Asian pitches. Some of the pitches are very tough with very low bounce.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Hope India trains a team just to beat SA in SA. Lot of young talents are coming through. We have to make sure their strategy backfires.

 

[Swashbuckler]

3rd test Johannesburg
Total overs bowled: 273 (9 sessions)
Total wickets to fall: 40
Number of wickets for spinners: 4

 

[Swashbuckler]

5 wickets for spinners in 3 completed test matches, both squads had a gun spinner each, Maharaj and Yasir.

If this is not pitch doctoring I don't know what to say. I have seen ICC rate pitches 'poor' in India and Sri Lanka where quicks have picked 15-20 wickets in a test match and with 4th innings 100, for being too spin friendly !!!!!

India-South Africa 2008 Kanpur
32 wickets fell, 14 to pacers
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14065/scorecard/332913/india-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-south-africa-tour-of-india-2007-08

Sri Lanka-Australia 2011 Galle
40 wickets fell, 20 to pacers, Mahela scored 4th innings 105 and Angelo a 4th innings 95
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8916/scorecard/516212/sri-lanka-vs-australia-1st-test-australia-tour-of-sri-lanka-2011

 

[Buffet]

Faf has nor right to be critical of Asian pitches. Some of the pitches are very tough with very low bounce.

He should zip it up when playing on turning pitches.

 

[soso_killer]

Pitches have been fine, scoring rate suggests that, on a rubbish wicket stroke making is hard for everyone. SA were going at 4 an over when Makram was batting in the first innings, QdK scored a runner ball ton. Faf got a ton in Cape Town, almost the same for Bavuma. Makram had an attacking 78 before being dismissed by a part timer.

The Indian tour was a retaliation to the rubbish wickets SA got the last time they went to India. India have always enjoyed pancakes in South Africa including a customary match in Durban until they betrayed CSA.

 

[soso_killer]

Hope India trains a team just to beat SA in SA. Lot of young talents are coming through. We have to make sure their strategy backfires.

There's no strategy whatsoever, if India produce sporting wickets they'll get sporting wickets in return. If they produce rank turners they'll get green mambas which is fair enough.

 

[Ab Fan]

Pitches have been good sporting wickets for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The batters haven't utilized it well, that's a different thing. Both sides had average batting as well, so didn't help.

For Pakistan series, SA played 4 pace bowlers except first test while for Pakistan, Yasir Shah is a non-entity outside Asia. So, there is no surprise with lack of wickets for spinners.

India put up Mohali and Nagpur wickets for SA, so in response, they gave us Capetown and Johannesburg. So, that evens up.

No *** for tat, no controversy. India also played the game in a great spirit with absolutely no questioning on the wickets produced by SA because that is what India also gave to them.

 

[The Viper]

SA do have a right to produce these wickets as they are home. But the thing is that they shouldn’t complain when getting tough subcontinent pitches. I think it is fair.

 

[charlie007]

That's the beauty of playing in different countries - enjoy the flavor of pitches! Unless it is a dangerous pitch, stop whining and suck it up!

 

[Swashbuckler]

So glad to see it backfired. Brutal lessons delivered by the mighty Lankan Lions, what a spanking !!!!

 

[Swashbuckler]

Elgar bringing up 2015 India tour, calling those pitches 'farce'.

The hypocrisy of these guys is incredible. So much whining , perfect batting track in Visakhapatnam, he scored a good 150 but can't stop crying about events 4 years prior. The Proteas did the same in Sri Lanka last year where they were brownwashed on traditional SC tracks.