"To play Test cricket on this surface is unfair" : Sourav Ganguly criticises pitch for 3rd Test

[Abdullah719]

"To play Test cricket on this surface is unfair" : Sourav Ganguly criticises pitch for 3rd Test

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/vikrantgupta73?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikrantgupta73</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCCI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> ..To play test cricket on this surface is unfair ...saw it in NZ in 2003 ...batsman have minimum chance ..icc should look into it</p>— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) <a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99/status/956204580718587904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[aloo paratha]

Did he complain when South Africa toured India? Genuine question, because if he didn't...

 

[soso_killer]

Did he complain when South Africa toured India? Genuine question, because if he didn't...

I think he was one of the more sympathetic Indians. The guy has class. Not that I agree with him here though, this pitch is nowhere near what NZ got in the Spring.

 

[troodon]

Tomorrow if the pitch eases and SA post in excess of 400, Ganguly will look like a clown.

At least wait till both teams bat before passing on any judgement.

 

[waleed88]

People should stop playing Test Cricket altogether. Its an obsolete form of cricket with home sides heavily favorites to win it. No such thing as neutral conditions, and every defeat is marred by controversy of pitch not suitable to International standards, nothing in favor of the touring side...

 

[CricketingMinds]

Never knew there was a "2-inning" T10 match between Ind and Nz in 2003 -

it had 12 players instead of the normal XI.

This is pretty interesting...


http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15259/game/112812/new-zealand-vs-india-india-tour-of-new-zealand

 

[barah_admi]

Oh these Indians need to stop moaning. Anyone remember the Pune pitch? Or pretty much 90% of pitches in India?

Plus, I had a chance to watch a lot of the days play and apart from some swing and seam early, the pitch and conditions were more in favour of the batsmen an hours or so after lunch. Yes it still had bounce but cmon, not everything can be a flat road. If they can't play then they shouldnt tour.

 

[Railu Katta]

What about the minefield that hindustan puts out where the spinners become the second coming of Murali and Warne

 

[CanadianG00se]

Tomorrow if the pitch eases and SA post in excess of 400, Ganguly will look like a clown.

At least wait till both teams bat before passing on any judgement.

so how is Pitch fair if one team bats on a minefield while the other enjoys batting surface?

I would rather have rank turner that behaves the same for both teams.

 

[Railu Katta]

Oh these Indians need to stop moaning. Anyone remember the Pune pitch? Or pretty much 90% of pitches in India?

Plus, I had a chance to watch a lot of the days play and apart from some swing and seam early, the pitch and conditions were more in favour of the batsmen an hours or so after lunch. Yes it still had bounce but cmon, not everything can be a flat road. If they can't play then they shouldnt tour.

According to some of the "experts" here hindustan is the best Asian country who plays cricket and some think pandya is better than Razzaq )

 

[Railu Katta]

so how is Pitch fair if one team bats on a minefield while the other enjoys batting surface?

I would rather have rank turner that behaves the same for both teams.

Don't worry your hindustani team will be shooopershtarzzz in hindustan when they arrange home series. Then you can admire your batting and pandya haircut and pandya style and sixers

 

[Syed1]

India can't wait to go back home and make pitches that turn square from ball one.... That'll show these Saffers

 

[barah_admi]

According to some of the "experts" here hindustan is the best Asian country who plays cricket and some think pandya is better than Razzaq )

Yeah ahahahha they seem to forget India have never had a side that has had an away/home legacy and are below Eng, Aus, Pak and SA in terms of WL in the history of the game.

I will say however, that Pandya is a terrific striker of the ball and strictly in that regard, better than Razzak. Razzak is a better all rounder player though.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Don't worry your hindustani team will be shooopershtarzzz in hindustan when they arrange home series. Then you can admire your batting and pandya haircut and pandya style and sixers

haha and what about your team that got owned by Lanka of all teams

 

[Railu Katta]

haha and what about your team that got owned by Lanka of all teams

We are a 6th ranked team. You are the number 1 team and about to be whitewashed again. You were number 1 in 2011 and got whitewashed. Your team is an embarrassment to the number 1 ranking. Try winning a test match overseas and then talk

 

[DRsohail]

Moaning.......

 

[cricketjoshila]

We are a 6th ranked team. You are the number 1 team and about to be whitewashed again. You were number 1 in 2011 and got whitewashed. Your team is an embarrassment to the number 1 ranking. Try winning a test match overseas and then talk

Atleast we have not lose test matches to SL, WI at home nor have we lost a test to this ZIM team.

 

[ManFan]

Atleast we have not lose test matches to SL, WI at home nor have we lost a test to this ZIM team.

That's behavior acceptable of a team at number 6. But losing 0-3 for a team that's number 1? That's poor.

 

[AAli98]

No need for SA to produce these kind of seaming tracks against Ind, theyd even wipe the floor with Ind preparing flat tracks.

 

[Buffet]

India and SA are free to produce whatever pitch they want to play in their home series.

 

[Sachin136]

India and SA are free to produce whatever pitch they want to play in their home series.

Pretty much. I don't know why people are getting so upset at Ganguly's opinion though. What he says doesn't make a difference.

 

[Sachin136]

That's behavior acceptable of a team at number 6. But losing 0-3 for a team that's number 1? That's poor.

Who lost 0-3?

 

[Saj]

But it's ok to have dust bowls which turn square on day 1?

 

[ManFan]

Who lost 0-3?

India to SA. They are 0-2 so 0-3 is inevitable. PAK will do no better if that’s what you are wondering.

 

[Suleiman]

Match shuru hua nahi, par rona shuru.

 

[troodon]

But it's ok to have dust bowls which turn square on day 1?

I think dustbowls will turn square right from day 1 to day 5. They don’t jam any major advantage to any team batting first or 2nd or last.

Green pitches we see in SA or Eng or NZ sometimes swing and seam a lot on day 1 and by day 2 they become roads. Which means whichever team bats First already lost the match.

 

[Sachin136]

India to SA. They are 0-2 so 0-3 is inevitable. PAK will do no better if that’s what you are wondering.

Well if it is inevitable, then I suggest you look into some betting sites. Should be an easy way to earn some money.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Is he forgetting Kohli decided to bat first? If SA batted first and were bowled out for 150, woud he have said the same thing?

You can't fault a pitch if you decide to make first use of it.

 

[Railu Katta]

I think dustbowls will turn square right from day 1 to day 5. They don’t jam any major advantage to any team batting first or 2nd or last.

Green pitches we see in SA or Eng or NZ sometimes swing and seam a lot on day 1 and by day 2 they become roads. Which means whichever team bats First already lost the match.

hindustan won the toss and batted first. You are lucky they even made 187 because kohli was dropped and pujara was plumb lbw on 0.

 

[troodon]

hindustan won the toss and batted first. You are lucky they even made 187 because kohli was dropped and pujara was plumb lbw on 0.

What lucky? Let’s not talk about luck here. You drop catches because of inept fielding. It’s part of the game.

You sound bitter.

Also, your name Railu Katta suggests you are a Telugu person. Railu Katta means Railway tracks in Telugu. Whom are you fooling dude.

 

[Square Drive]

What lucky? Let’s not talk about luck here. You drop catches because of inept fielding. It’s part of the game.

You sound bitter.

Also, your name Railu Katta suggests you are a Telugu person. Railu Katta means Railway tracks in Telugu. Whom are you fooling dude.

)

You clearly have not been following Imran Khan's comments on the PSL finals.

 

[Railu Katta]

What lucky? Let’s not talk about luck here. You drop catches because of inept fielding. It’s part of the game.

You sound bitter.

Also, your name Railu Katta suggests you are a Telugu person. Railu Katta means Railway tracks in Telugu. Whom are you fooling dude.

I don't even know what a Telugu is...Railu Katta is an ATG allrounder that every team dreams to have in their team (according to a Railu Katta).

)

You clearly have not been following Imran Khan's comments on the PSL finals.

 

[ManFan]

Well if it is inevitable, then I suggest you look into some betting sites. Should be an easy way to earn some money.

I am 3-0 in sports bets (2009 World Series, 2010 NBA Finals, and 2016 Super bowl) so you are onto something there.

 

[giri26]

Poor comment by Sourav. These sort of wickets give India a chance to win as both teams struggle. I don't think SA will be able to score too high either. This will be again another close Test with SA probably edging India once again.

 

[lehen]

No one read between the lines of what he wanted to say ganguly is very educated and classy. He made a sarcastic comment for all those who whine on the 3 rd ball of the 1st Day in India about the pitch turning square should have the guts to do the same when pitch offers leg spin at 142kph on the 3rd ball as well. *** for Tat it is.... I hope atleast some got what he wanted to say

 

[Itachi]

Is he forgetting Kohli decided to bat first? If SA batted first and were bowled out for 150, woud he have said the same thing?

You can't fault a pitch if you decide to make first use of it.

This. If the pitch was minefield, kohli should have had bat second so that, if by any chance RSA gets out at cheap score, indian team would have had a psychological advantage.

This is unnecessary whining too in my opinion.

 

[IndianMafia]

If you bat second on this, forth innings will be unplayable. So this is a catch 22 kinda situation.

 

[jagatk]

This. If the pitch was minefield, kohli should have had bat second so that, if by any chance RSA gets out at cheap score, indian team would have had a psychological advantage.

This is unnecessary whining too in my opinion.

While I think the decision was stupid, Phehlukwayo was bowling square turning leg cutters @ 125k's off the pitch on the first day, that cannot be a good sign for team batting second.

 

[Ab Fan]

It is still far better than Nagpur 2015 where none of the batsmen from both sides managed to score a 50.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

India's 187 is actually a sensational score here. The ball was jumping off cracks, turning off right angles and seaming like crazy. Even set batsmen were being beaten again and again. But for awful fielding and umpiring we would have scored less than 100.

India isn't that bad at batting either. This pitch is utterly unplayable, and the proof of that will emerge as the game goes on.

 

[Madplayer]

I think dustbowls will turn square right from day 1 to day 5. They don’t jam any major advantage to any team batting first or 2nd or last.

Green pitches we see in SA or Eng or NZ sometimes swing and seam a lot on day 1 and by day 2 they become roads. Which means whichever team bats First already lost the match.

India won the toss didnt they? They chose to bat so its their own fault.

And what you are saying has been the case throughout the history of cricket. Thats why winning toss is considered important, thats why teams have lengthy discussions what to do after winning the toss. Not sure why all of a sudden it has become a problem. It is part of cricket that conditions wont stay the same over 5 days.

 

[Syed1]

Abhi aek din howa hai aur inka rona shoro...


If India win this test then pitch will automatically become ok?

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Abhi aek din howa hai aur inka rona shoro...


If India win this test then pitch will automatically become ok?

It won't. Weather permitting, we will.

And that's exactly why it won't be ok.

Our batsmen are very good and it took an absolute miracle for us to get 187.

That's an unacceptable pitch, and you will probably agree after seeing what happens later in the match (which might be what you are accusing others of).

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The pitch is fine. Nothing wrong with it. We simply don't have the batsmen to negotiate it.

 

[Tyler Durden]

What lucky? Let’s not talk about luck here. You drop catches because of inept fielding. It’s part of the game.

You sound bitter.

Also, your name Railu Katta suggests you are a Telugu person. Railu Katta means Railway tracks in Telugu. Whom are you fooling dude.

Are you Telugu mate? Glad to encounter a Telugite here on this Forum Where in AP?

 

[Smbhayi]

I don't care but it should be rated as poor pitch.

 

[Bilal7]

so how is Pitch fair if one team bats on a minefield while the other enjoys batting surface?

I would rather have rank turner that behaves the same for both teams.

It's fair because your captain chose to bat first. Also, since when did rank turners behave the same for both teams? India had a massive advantage batting first in Mohali and Nagpur back in 2015.

 

[soso_killer]

I think dustbowls will turn square right from day 1 to day 5. They don’t jam any major advantage to any team batting first or 2nd or last.

Green pitches we see in SA or Eng or NZ sometimes swing and seam a lot on day 1 and by day 2 they become roads. Which means whichever team bats First already lost the match.

Like SA in Cape Town?
India elected to bat by the way.
The team batting last has no disadvantage on rank turners? Lol.

 

[soso_killer]

While I think the decision was stupid, Phehlukwayo was bowling square turning leg cutters @ 125k's off the pitch on the first day, that cannot be a good sign for team batting second.

I also read that nonsense on cricbuzz. Absolute nonsense. When he was catered around in his new spell he was fine. Came back later kept it tight, all of a sudden he was "seaming the ball square". Rather watch the game and form your own opinion. After lunch the pitch played well, in fact after the first hour. India lost two wickets, yes they were lucky but luck is what you need in the first hour in SA on any surface. India failed to capitalise.

 

[BaankeJi]

Ganguly was one of a few to criticize Indian pitches. So he has every right to criticize South African pitches.

 

[jagatk]

I also read that nonsense on cricbuzz. Absolute nonsense. When he was catered around in his new spell he was fine. Came back later kept it tight, all of a sudden he was "seaming the ball square". Rather watch the game and form your own opinion. After lunch the pitch played well, in fact after the first hour. India lost two wickets, yes they were lucky but luck is what you need in the first hour in SA on any surface. India failed to capitalise.

I don't read Cricbuzz I watched the match, the movement he was getting off the pitch was not a good sight, it wasn't his skills that was doing the moving rather the cracks on the pitch and if the sun keeps shining this is going to get really tricky, add to that as match progresses variable bounce comes into play which is just pathetic to watch.

I don't mind green mambas or square turners, it is very difficult but there is a consistency to it but variable bounce is just disgusting to watch.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Tomorrow if the pitch eases and SA post in excess of 400, Ganguly will look like a clown.

At least wait till both teams bat before passing on any judgement.

What if SA get shot out for 100 odd?

 

[soso_killer]

I don't read Cricbuzz I watched the match, the movement he was getting off the pitch was not a good sight, it wasn't his skills that was doing the moving rather the cracks on the pitch and if the sun keeps shining this is going to get really tricky, add to that as match progresses variable bounce comes into play which is just pathetic to watch.

I don't mind green mambas or square turners, it is very difficult but there is a consistency to it but variable bounce is just disgusting to watch.

Variable bounce? In what universe are you watching this match?
Again why were the no complaints when he was bowling in his first spell and went for runs? The ball was definitely new. He came back in the 60th over and bowled tighter lines, is that where the problems started? Was a "quota" suppose to go at four to the over? Did everything not go according to script?

Have you seen Phehlukwayo bowl in domestic cricket by the way?

 

[Slog]

wow this comes across as very loser-ish from Ganguly

 

[jagatk]

Variable bounce? In what universe are you watching this match?
Again why were the no complaints when he was bowling in his first spell and went for runs? The ball was definitely new. He came back in the 60th over and bowled tighter lines, is that where the problems started? Was a "quota" suppose to go at four to the over? Did everything not go according to script?

Have you seen Phehlukwayo bowl in domestic cricket by the way?

Where balls deviate off the cracks there will be variable bounce as cracks start to widen. Also if the cracks started affecting the game within 20-25 overs this game would not have proceeded, nothing to do with him being 5th choice.

 

[jagatk]

Chupp kar rondhu!! Kan te na khaali ek chaped!! He is really awful along with that ganja sehwag!! Where was he when his precious india was producing rank turners.Hate him so much.

Funny isn't it all duplesis, SA experts and other players did during Indian tour was moan and they were completely justified according to you lot but when Indian expert says something he is crying, hypocrisy much.

 

[soso_killer]

Where balls deviate off the cracks there will be variable bounce as cracks start to widen. Also if the cracks started affecting the game within 20-25 overs this game would not have proceeded, nothing to do with him being 5th choice.

There's been no variable bounce on this deck. You have no idea what you're talking about. Those cracks won't even come into play until day 4 or 5. There were cracks in Cape Town too and Pretoria. Due to the dryness of the surface cracks came into play a bit. The grass holds the pitch together, that has always been it's role.
Again watch the match before making uninformed statements.

 

[soso_killer]

Even Harbhajan had issues with the Indian wickets FWIW.

 

[jagatk]

Even Harbhajan had issues with the Indian wickets FWIW.

So ganguly's opinion is stupid but the genius of Harbhajan is correct, I really wonder how people would agree anything just because it suits their agenda.

 

[soso_killer]

So ganguly's opinion is stupid but the genius of Harbhajan is correct, I really wonder how people would agree anything just because it suits their agenda.

I think he was one of the more sympathetic Indians. The guy has class. Not that I agree with him here though, this pitch is nowhere near what NZ got in the Spring.

.

 

[aniket1911]

Last time SA toured India, we spanked them left, right and centre to 3-0 (4-0 if rain had not intervened). But, Ganguly's staccatoed rant would be vitiating as we ourselves are accused of such vulpine cunning in terms of Doctoring the pitch, which South Africa are excessively doing now. Better way to deal with it is to just simper over the green milieu rather than looking at it with corrugated eyebrows, surprisingly our team is doing just that, adorning the team's character. Take it on chin, give it your all to win but don't hue and cry over pitches so next time south Africa come touring, give them spanking of a lifetime again. Easy peasy.

 

[RainMan_]

wow this comes across as very loser-ish from Ganguly

He said the same thing when saffers were given rank turners in their last tour of India. He's consistent with his views. We should respect his opinion.

 

[90MPH]

I think it’s fair to say the pitch has excessive seam movement.

I criticise pitches that turn square from ball one so it’s fair to say this one had a bit too much movement for the quicks.

However I will say India won the toss and should definitely have bowled first - they could and should have bowled SA cheaply.

They squandered a great opportunity in the first Test as well when conditions favoured them.

 

[Madplayer]

Rabada lasted 2 hours on this pitch. Scored quicker than Pujara.

 

[Bilal7]

I think it’s fair to say the pitch has excessive seam movement.

I criticise pitches that turn square from ball one so it’s fair to say this one had a bit too much movement for the quicks.

However I will say India won the toss and should definitely have bowled first - they could and should have bowled SA cheaply.

They squandered a great opportunity in the first Test as well when conditions favoured them.

It was tougher for the batters today than it was yesterday. The pitch quickened up. History says that Jo'Burg gets better to bat on days 3 and 4 so let's see if that happens. Cloud cover is the X-factor though.

 

[MenInG]

The Wanderers wicket 'could be dangerous' : Jasprit Bumrah

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/wanderers-wicket-could-be-dangerous-20180125

Johannesburg - Before the third Test between South Africa and India at the Wanderers, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis acknowledged that he would be requesting a wicket with pace and bounce.

The Proteas have made no secret of the fact that they wanted wickets that would benefit their fast bowlers in this series, but Du Plessis said on the eve of the Johannesburg Test that the Wanderers strip would be "nothing extreme".

Two days into the Test, it doesn't seem that way at all.

There have been 21 wickets in two days with Hashim Amla's 61 the top score of the match so far.

One delivery in particular from Ishant Sharma that jagged back a mile cannoned into Amla's ribs, while the South African tail-enders were all at sea against the Indian short bowling.

Jasprit Bumrah, who took 5/54 in the South African innings, and Amla were both asked for their views on the wicket after the day's play.

Both players were reluctant to criticise it too heavily, but reading between the lines it was clear that they both thought it was on the excessive side.

"Yeah it’s a little different. We haven’t played on such a wicket," Bumrah said.

"But we are not too critical of the pitch because the match is going on ... we can’t stray away from the topic.

"So that is the basic plan - don’t focus on the wicket. We are focusing on what we have to do right now."

When asked if he felt the wicket provided a fair contest between bat and ball, Bumrah acknowledged that it could be dangerous to bat on.

"It’s a little difficult to say that because some balls are up and down so that could be dangerous for the batsman," he said.

Amla, meanwhile, acknowledged that this was one of the toughest wickets he had ever batted on.

"I can think back recently when we played in England and there were a couple of tough wickets there. This one has a lot of pace and bounce and it is quite challenging as a batsman," Amla said.

"There is nothing you can do about it. You try your best when you’re batting and that’s it.

"It’s a spicy wicket … nobody can hide from the fact that you can get out on every ball.

"Whether it’s too excessive or not? Ask the batsmen … what do you think they’ll say?"

Amla was then asked to compare the extremities of this Wanderers wicket to what the Proteas faced in India, particularly in Nagpur, where they were given a dust bowl as India's spinner thrived.

"Both were very difficult to bat on," he said.

"The difference here is if you look at Centurion, in particular, the wicket didn’t suit us one bit. For us to win the game in those kind of sub-continent conditions proved that we are playing good cricket."

India will resume their second innings on 49/1 on Friday, 42 runs ahead of the Proteas.

 

[leatherface58]

The Joburg pitch from 2013 was also a wicketfest for the first two days but flattened out. That being said, both teams managed to get around 250 in the first innings before it flattened out considerably. Here, teams are getting shot out for sub-200 totals and you know what? I LOVE IT.

I would rather watch rank turners and green mambas than the crappy pitches in Australia. I mean that series bored the hell out of me and I do not remember a single thing about it. This series has been good and both teams can atleast say they fought till the end.

 

[Last Monetarist]

The Joburg pitch from 2013 was also a wicketfest for the first two days but flattened out. That being said, both teams managed to get around 250 in the first innings before it flattened out considerably. Here, teams are getting shot out for sub-200 totals and you know what? I LOVE IT.

I would rather watch rank turners and green mambas than the crappy pitches in Australia. I mean that series bored the hell out of me and I do not remember a single thing about it. This series has been good and both teams can atleast say they fought till the end.

Exactement. There has been too much moaning about these pitches, the batsmen have had it ridiculously easy in recent years. I have absolutely no problem with the dustbowls in India nor with the green mambas produced at the Wanderers in recent years. I do however loathe pitches such as the one prepared for the Boxing Day test and believe that the MCG curator should be fined a month's wages for that travesty.

 

[Sachin136]

The Joburg pitch from 2013 was also a wicketfest for the first two days but flattened out. That being said, both teams managed to get around 250 in the first innings before it flattened out considerably. Here, teams are getting shot out for sub-200 totals and you know what? I LOVE IT.

I would rather watch rank turners and green mambas than the crappy pitches in Australia. I mean that series bored the hell out of me and I do not remember a single thing about it. This series has been good and both teams can atleast say they fought till the end.

Well said. Unless the pitch turns out to be dangerous for the players, the pitch is fine.

 

[BaankeJi]

Unwarranted criticism of Ganguly. Check what he had said when South Africa toured India.
But since when people do homework before commenting.

 

[ipl_fan]

How do you rate the Johannesburg pitch for the 3rd Test?

Curious to know the reactions of PPers.

For the record, Michael Holding rates it "2 out of 100"

 

[Ab Fan]

Poor

 

[dhonixi]

It's a seamers paradise, so it is not poor.

 

[subbu]

umpires regularly checking those cracks on the pitch ..not a good sign

batsmen got hit few times from good length deliveries ..few more of those ....match might be called off

 

[big_gamer007]

Amazing pitch I always enjoy watching fast bowlers dominate batsmen and this pitch is testing each and every batsmen.. Great to watch hopefully more pitches can be like this in future.

 

[pillionrider]

Steve Smith and Joe Root would have shown how good they actually are vs Kohli.

I like Steve Smith a lot (Root, not so much), but can't see him being particularly effective on this pitch.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bumrah already told it is a dangerous pitch. He called it correctly. We should not be confused with sporting pitch and downright under-prepared pitch.

 

[subbu]

looking at the ractions... Faf du Plessis not happy ..as they are going to bat last

 

[jnaveen1980]

If India had Umesh it would have been handful for sA . 145k from cracks would hurt you seriously.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

It’s given us an exciting test match, i dont have a problem with it.