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This Bridgetown pitch is a disgrace!

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Says it all

Not saying we deserve to win or anything but it's not a contest between bat and ball
 
Pak should have thought about that ealier and score another 70-100 runs instead of playing for themselves.

Untill we get over this arrogance that UAE method will work everywhere, we deserve more results like this.

the contest goes over 5 days and Pakistan botched it and windes fought hard, pitch has little to do with it
 
West Indians scored on the same pitch. I think their bowlers exploited the conditions far better.
 
Not the first time where a pitch has misbehaved on the 5th day. Give it some time, it will sink in.
 
Pak should have thought about that ealier and score another 70-100 runs instead of playing for themselves.

Untill we get over this arrogance that UAE method will work everywhere, we deserve more results like this.

the contest goes over 5 days and Pakistan botched it and windes fought hard, pitch has little to do with it

Younis and Shehzad dismissals were a joke due to the pitch

And random balls don't even bounce and others seem like they are on a 80s WACA
 
A defining factor has been Pakistani pace attack. Indian pacers outbowled West Indians to win the series easily. Pakistani pace attack on the other hand has looked spineless.
 
Says it all

Not saying we deserve to win or anything but it's not a contest between bat and ball

As we used to say back at home "Naach na jaane, angan teyra"
 
A defining factor has been Pakistani pace attack. Indian pacers outbowled West Indians to win the series easily. Pakistani pace attack on the other hand has looked spineless.

the pace attack has had good numbers. They didn't bowl great second innings but in all the other ones they did really well.

We're missing another bowler, Shadab just doesn't add much.
 
Shafiq, Sarfraz, Younis and Babar should have taken more responsibility in the 1st innings and this wouldn't have happened.

Stop blaming the pitch
 
Pitch is not good but the Pakistanis are batting poorly. Shadab's shot was aweful
 
Pak should have thought about that ealier and score another 70-100 runs instead of playing for themselves.

Untill we get over this arrogance that UAE method will work everywhere, we deserve more results like this.

the contest goes over 5 days and Pakistan botched it and windes fought hard, pitch has little to do with it
that was the plan in the 1st inning with 100+ runs partnership (Azhar + Misbah) and 50+ runs partnership (Misbah + Asad). But then Sarfraz tried to play fast without looking at the pitch and gifted his wicket to West Indies :facepalm: He cost Pakistan dearly and wasted all heroic efforts of Azhar and Misbah
 
the pace attack has had good numbers. They didn't bowl great second innings but in all the other ones they did really well.

We're missing another bowler, Shadab just doesn't add much.

Given the pitch, Yasir didn't get enough support from the pacers. Shadab's inclusion indeed was a blunder, but pacers really should have done much more.
 
Scores of 312, 393 and 268 sure does seem like its a disgraceful pitch.

Typical Pakistani attitude blame anything and everything else but the main culprit who are out batsman. By now it should be clear to everyone on away tours any 4th innings target of 120 or above and our team is toast irrespective of opposition.
 
that was the plan in the 1st inning with 100+ runs partnership (Azhar + Misbah) and 50+ runs partnership (Misbah + Asad). But then Sarfraz tried to play fast without looking at the pitch and gifted his wicket to West Indies :facepalm: He cost Pakistan dearly and wasted all heroic efforts of Azhar and Misbah

or azhar should not have slowed down so much after making a 50, did Misbah.

You convietlytly forget that a lot of Pak's success in recent times has been built on going two an over and then relying on Sarfraz to blast it.

I sad it before he even came out to bat that Pakistan's strategy is Sarfraz or bust, Misbah is the only player who came out with any credit. Azhar and Shehzad were both selfish gits in the 1st innings. We arent asking them to hit 6 every over, but both went through large phases were under no threat from the bowlers, they were actively not look for runs and not putting bat balls away
 
Graeme Smith once commented on the toss in the Carribean Islands . "You win toss, you bat first"

Pakistan won the toss and should have batted first
 
this pitch is really poor no way Westindies bowling unit is capable of troubling Pakistani batting this much.
 
When you lose the toss in West Indies or India, you better get a 150+ first inning lead or you will be out of the game. Pakistan let WI score too many in both the innings, and now the pitch is reminding Pakistan of that mistake.
 
Graeme Smith once commented on the toss in the Carribean Islands . "You win toss, you bat first"

Pakistan won the toss and should have batted first

lol we lost the toss. who would want to bat last on this surface.
 
Says it all

Not saying we deserve to win or anything but it's not a contest between bat and ball

Stop finding excuses. Esp in the first Innings , Pak failed to capitalize. It is not a bad pitch by international standards , an odd ball staying low doesn't make a pitch bad. It is providing some assistance to bowlers so what's the harm ? Learn to win or lose gracefully
 
The pitch is not disgrace, this batting line is disgrace and one of the most over rated teams i have ever seen, the delusional team
 
Stop finding excuses. Esp in the first Innings , Pak failed to capitalize. It is not a bad pitch by international standards , an odd ball staying low doesn't make a pitch bad. It is providing some assistance to bowlers so what's the harm ? Learn to win or lose gracefully

Read through the thread before jumping in

Pitch was bad for both teams. Doesn't mean it can't be called out
 
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I'd say the Pakistan top order batting in the 2nd innings is a disgrace.
 
Just yesterday most people were saying "it doesn't look difficult to bat on, we should chase it easily."
 
So Amir can score 20 on this pitch but the top order can't... though there is no doubt the pitch is poor, we are not losing because of the pitch. We are losing because our top order just can't handle a chase, especially in conditions outside of what they are accustomed to.

We are in this position because we didn't score more in the first innings, and also because Windies played a blinder and fought back hard in their 2nd innings to put up a decent total! It's okay.. GO AMIR & SARFARAZ!
 
it is a difficult pitch now. But still it isnt a 36/7 pitch. Our bats just havent dug in and we let WI get way too many runs on Day 4 should have restricted them to 200-220. On Day 5 this happens in a lot of countries where u get uneven bounce thats what u have to deal with in Test Cricket.
 
it is a difficult pitch now. But still it isnt a 36/7 pitch. Our bats just havent dug in and we let WI get way too many runs on Day 4 should have restricted them to 200-220. On Day 5 this happens in a lot of countries where u get uneven bounce thats what u have to deal with in Test Cricket.

Uneven bounce was there on Day 2, that's why the likes of Bishop were criticising it and saying that the groundsman needs to do a better job.

Having said that, the batting has been abysmal this innings and WI bowling very good, specially Gabriel.
 
After looking at Amir and Sarfi's batting, I feel this thread is a disgrace. Nothing wrong with the pitch.
 
[MENTION=137997]Abdullah[/MENTION]79 its not the best wicket but still its not like you cant score on it. Just takes a lot of application and grit.

lets not forget theres been two centuries and two 90s on this track. Its not a complete death trap.
 
Read through the thread before jumping in

Pitch was bad for both teams. Doesn't mean it can't be called out

The pitch isn't bad for both teams - its quite a decent pitch with enough for the bowlers. Not every pitch would be a 400 plus. Your 8th batsman is batting wonderfully and no ghosts in the pitch for him
 
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I think the Windies have bowled well while pakistan were too negative with the ball and lots of runs on the board. Shah must have spent 10 overs bowling to a leg side field with one single line.

BUT 2 dismissals were horrendous, especially the way the ball kept low against Younis. The pitch is bad, no doubt.
 
reminded me of India 81 a.o chasing 120 on the same pitch against Ambrose, walsh, & co
 
Pakistan are the most mentally fragile team in the world, specially while chasing. Even minnows are mentally stronger than us. The pitch might be bad, but I expect Pakistan to lose 9 out of 10 times while chasing 150+ in a test match irrespective of the opposition. They need a full-time psychologist to overcome this issue. I remember when Wasim was captain, he always batted first after winning the toss since he was well aware of this mental weakness.
 
over a 1000 runs scored, not a terrible pitch at all. I think its been a great pitch, 4th innings should be difficult. wi showed great application in their 2nd innings, I knew that lead of nearly 200 would be fatal for Pakistan. Pakistan's bowling attack going in to this match really wasn't very strong
 
Not the point.

Even the West Indian commentators have been saying it. That it's a poor pitch.

I am not a fan of pitches where there's uneven bounce right from the start.
one team scored close to 400, this just shouldn't be a point of discussion...........
 
True, it went horrible on day 5. But we should worry about our own team first as we were resorting over a spinner instead of pacers for that same pitch. and it was def. not an 80-90 pitch, our batting made it look like one.
 
Much rather this than the rubbish served up in Australia in the past few seasons. It was old school test cricket and produced a riveting finale. If there was any side I'd want to see doing well at test cricket apart from Pakistan, it's the West Indies.
 
I think when one team scores around 400 on a pitch you can't say that pitch is disgrace. Not a good pitch, but you see this kind of pitch lots of times in the test format.
 
A defining factor has been Pakistani pace attack. Indian pacers outbowled West Indians to win the series easily. Pakistani pace attack on the other hand has looked spineless.

I have noticed that it is mostly you who start bringing in India in every thread and thereby start an India v Pakistan discussion.why?
 
Pakistani batsmen were too busy achieving their milestones than bat WI out of this test in the first innings. The pitch was always going to get worse so the amount of tuk tuk for no cause ultimately came back to bite us.
 
Not the point.

Even the West Indian commentators have been saying it. That it's a poor pitch.

I am not a fan of pitches where there's uneven bounce right from the start.

It was obvious on Day 1 that it would deteriorate badly by Day 5.

And Pakistan had to bat last.

It meant that it was suicide to bat so slowly in Pakistan's first innings. They needed to try to get the game finished by Day 4 to avoid batting on a minefield.

But even then, how on earth did Pakistan crawl to 10-0 in 6.4 overs in the last innings?

It was completely obvious that the inconsistent bounce meant that they were only going to survive a maximum of 45 overs, and possibly less. They eventually managed 35 overs.

They needed to set out their stall to reach the following targets:

15 runs in 5 overs
35 runs in 10 overs
55 runs in 15 overs
75 runs in 20 overs
95 runs in 25 overs
115 runs in 30 overs.
135 runs in 35 overs

They didn't have to slog to do that.

Even if they were 135-6 after 34.4 overs - which is when they were all out - they would have been in with a chance.
 
It was obvious on Day 1 that it would deteriorate badly by Day 5.

And Pakistan had to bat last.

It meant that it was suicide to bat so slowly in Pakistan's first innings. They needed to try to get the game finished by Day 4 to avoid batting on a minefield.

But even then, how on earth did Pakistan crawl to 10-0 in 6.4 overs in the last innings?

It was completely obvious that the inconsistent bounce meant that they were only going to survive a maximum of 45 overs, and possibly less. They eventually managed 35 overs.

They needed to set out their stall to reach the following targets:

15 runs in 5 overs
35 runs in 10 overs
55 runs in 15 overs
75 runs in 20 overs
95 runs in 25 overs
115 runs in 30 overs.
135 runs in 35 overs

They didn't have to slog to do that.

Even if they were 135-6 after 34.4 overs - which is when they were all out - they would have been in with a chance.

I agree with [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] Bhai.

It was pathetic batting and absolute lack of planning.
 
Look, I dont think the pitch was any diferent to the ones played by India during the recent home run. What was lacking was a method to play on a pitch of this sort. This is not a bad pitch, it is not the kind that will be reported to the ICC. Eventually what we need is an even game, not one where a team scores 600 and then spins out oppn for 150. This would have been a bad pitch if the scores were around 200 in all the innings. But Pak showed in the first innings how to play here. 390 was a fair score. a lead of 80 in these conditions is very valuable. If you guys had seen India play recently, the approach is to attack when the pitch is bad. You will get out but till the bump ball comes you score. Rahul to a large extent and Kohli, Rahane when needed were successful using this ploy. You just dont go tuk tuk on a pitch with invariable bounce especially batting on Day 5
 
The pitch did deteriorate, but it's better than those stupid Australian wickets which are bouncy roads through to day 5.

Amir and Sarfraz showed with a little application it wasn't impossible score runs. They should have got to 150 at least, even if it was up and down. Can't blame the pitch when you fall over that badly.
 
While it was a big relief for West Indies to hit back and beat Pakistan by 106 runs on the fifth and final day of the second Test at Kensington Oval Thursday, the state of the pitch came in for criticism by some members of the media, as well as players and management.

After winning the toss, West Indies scored 312 and 268. Pakistan responded with 393 and set 188 to win, were bundled out for 81.

With the three-match series now levelled after Pakistan triumphed by seven wickets at Sabina Park in Jamaica, there is heightened interest going into the decider at Windsor Park in Dominica on Wednesday.

Among those lashing out at the dry nature of the surface at Kensington were two noted international television commentators, both of whom are covering the series – former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop and Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and opening batsman who also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

It was an honour to interview both and to share their thoughts.

“I didn’t think the pitch was satisfactory for Test cricket. I understand the difficulties and the challenges, which the groundstaff had but despite the fact that West Indies won, it could have been different if the West Indies had to bat last,” Bishop said.

“I am happy West Indies used the pitch brilliantly but we need better pitches generally for cricket in the region.

“I will preface my comments by the high volume of cricket played at Kensington prior to the Test but when I saw the pitch two days before the game, I thought, one, you are playing against Pakistan and, two, your attack, primarily when you have (Shannon) Gabriel, (Alzarri) Joseph and (Jason) Holder against a Pakistan batting line-up that struggles with bounce. Additionally you are coming to Kensington Oval and I would have expected a good cricket surface, a hard surface where the ball carries.


Shannon Gabriel (r) did quite a lot of damage with the ball in the second Test.
Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography
“I am not expecting a green top that goes everywhere but a hard cricket surface. I didn’t see that,” Bishop asserted.

Asked what advice he would give to local and regional authorities as far as pitch preparation was concerned, Bishop remarked: “We have to ensure that priority is given to the international game at the international venues because it is your most visible product. I am not devaluing the domestic game but the agreement with the West Indies Players Association may have to be revisited so that the workload on the international surfaces and the groundstaff at the venues, they can give the international pitches some time to breathe, grow grass and procure the surface.”

Speaking on Mid Wicket on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation after the third day’s play on Tuesday, Ramiz said: “I don’t know what has been happening over a period of time but I suppose that these surfaces have been over used. You play all your first-class cricket at the Test centres and that could be one reason why you have a tired square but somehow you’ve got to re-produce bounce, if not the green grass but at least bounce. And bounce means carry for the pacers, carry for the spinners and you can play some good shots as well.

“On a pitch like this, Test cricket gets killed because it is such a difficult pitch to force the issue that you are bound to then be scoring at a run rate of less than three (per over) for most part of the Test match, which means kind of a bad advert for Test match cricket. So, not only to gain some home advantage but also to make sure that there is watchable Test cricket for the fans, that you need to just upgrade the entire square, especially here.

“It is almost impossible to think of a rank spinning track when you enter Kensington Oval because this place has been historically renowned for producing quick tracks.”

Ramiz also gave his thoughts on the way forward for the West Indies team.

“Let’s start with pitches. I think you need to give them more helpful pitches and if fast bowling is going to win you matches, then that was the case against Pakistan also at Sharjah (last year) where the pitch had a bit more bounce and Pakistan’s batsmen were surprised by Gabriel’s pace and it was a fine win (by five wickets),” he said.

“So there is potential. West Indies can win provided they are given good surfaces. And then to make sure that you identify good talent that can serve you, not only for one or two series but for five years, for ten years. So look for long-term methods and develop management skills also. I think you need to keep talking to these young kids. They are at an impressionable age. They can easily be drawn out of the cricket environment, and so the West Indies Cricket Board has got to work extremely closely with some of these younger kids, create that healthy environment where everyone is well received and make sure that you don’t falter in selection matters. It has to be open, transparent, honest and have the eye for talent. I think it is important when you pick a player he should be in for a long period of time rather than a stop-gap arrangement,” Ramiz said.

Now back to Bishop and his assessment of how the West Indies performed in the second Test and generally as he highlighted some of the outstanding performances including a century (131) by Roston Chase in the first innings (his second in nine Tests), Shai Hope’s fighting knock of 90 in the second innings which was his first half-century in nine Tests as well, Gabriel’s career-best figures of five for 11 in the second innings and the captaincy of Holder.

“I was extraordinarily impressed with the bowling consistency of the three seamers on the last day,” Bishop remarked.

“Gabriel has manfully led the attack in the last year-and-a-half. Shai Hope’s batting – I can’t sing his praises high enough – in conditions that were so demanding and for him to finally get his highest Test score in those conditions, speaks volumes to his mental strength because he had been struggling.

“When Roston scored that hundred against India last year, I thought it was an exceptional knock but I analysed and I saw a weakness where I would bowl full around off stump at him, where he chooses not to score. But in this Test match, this hundred, I saw him sort of conquer that. So now I am satisfied that West Indies have found a gem. His great test though will be in England this year but I am confident that he is a thinking cricketer and he will overcome whatever challenges come his way.

“Before the tour started, I argued with one or two of my colleagues that I felt West Indies should win at least one of the different formats but I couldn’t say publicly because I had nothing to go back on.

“I really felt strongly that West Indies should have won the Twenty20 or the one-day series, or the Test series. At least, one of those three components.

“I know it is not finished yet but I don’t see the gap between the two teams as big as some people see it. Because people were of the opinion that West Indies could not beat Pakistan.

“If West Indies had caught better on that third day at Sabina, we would have put Pakistan in the same position as we had them in this Test, chasing nearly 200, so we could have been two-up but that is how I read the situation.

In relation to Holder’s captaincy, Bishop said: “I have watched him closely and some of his strategic moves were much better, much more aggressive, the way that he coaxed more critical overs at key times out of Joseph and Gabriel, I thought was an upward development. He also attacked a little bit more with his field placing so I think he is growing but he still has growth to do.

“Most importantly, the series is set up nicely and I know West Indies have to now prove that they can string two good games together because Pakistan will come back hard at them, Pakistan being a more experienced team. It should be a great finale.”

Thanks very much Ian and Ramiz. It is always a pleasure to talk with and share the views of those who played at the highest level. I trust the regional authorities take note.

https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/05/06/kensington-pitch-wi-win-take-spotlight/
 
As per Stuart Law the Barbados pitch was a typical Pakistani Pitch ... ouch !!! :)
 
Credit goes to Pakistani batsmen to make it " disgrace" , there was no problem when WI were batting in 2nd inning.
 
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