Umpires' intervention on an unplayable pitch

[stevewittry]

Lately we observed some instances of a pitch giving undue advantage to a certain side. A typical scenario being day-4/5 wicket being drastically different from the first three to three and half days, thus being of significant disadvantage to side batting last. This is typical of sub continent wickets. England losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions on a surface that was apprarently dead for the 4 days suddenly transformed into a minefield thus playing against England. Another scenario being the day night test matches wherein side having to bat under lights has a disadvantage over the opposition. PAK in the recent Brisbane test were the victim. While the degree of advantage or disadvantage is still subjective, do we have a provision within the cricketing laws that allow Umpires to monitor this situation and take a call on whether a particular side gets undue advantage for external factors beyond cricketing skills and call it a draw in such situations.

It's a known fact that home teams prepare surfaces considering their respective strengths but the surface/ conditions should be fair both teams. If not, on field Umpires/ match referees should make due intervention and suspend the match.

While many on this forum may feel that such occurrences of a side enjoying advantage may be evened out in the course of a series but unfortunately not true.

Requesting inputs from friends on this forum.

 

[Varun]

The only reason England were batting 'last' were because they couldn't restrict us in our batting innings.

A typical, expected thread, but fails to observe that we lost 4 tosses in a 5-game series.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Did England really lose 10 wickets on a minefield?

England won the toss and they had to bat 3rd on the pitch. If they can't even bat 3rd on a pitch how do you expect them to bat 4th on a pitch?

Pakistan had unfair disadvantage when the lights were on, yet when the surface became dead, Pakistan nearly chased 490 runs on two days even when lights were on.

Moral of the story :

If a team plays below par, any pitch is good enough for a team to lose.

 

[Gilly]

Good luck getting the umpires to decide the difference between poor performance and poor conditions.

 

[Big Mac]

A guy scores a triple century and 24 hrs later it's a minefield? Most visitors to India can only dream of a pitch that good for batting on the fifth day

 

[Sin Nombre]

Minefield. English fans, never change.

 

[stevewittry]

A guy scores a triple century and 24 hrs later it's a minefield? Most visitors to India can only dream of a pitch that good for batting on the fifth day

I can't really think of any reason for a side losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions. England I must admit has been the best player of spin of all non Asian teams in recent times. To see a side comprising of Cook, Root, Barston, Stokes, Ali and all collapse in this slot is baffling to say the least and can't be attributed to bowling alone. Pitch/ conditions definitely played it's part.

Turning to the Pakistan / Aussie game, Pakistan having to bat under lights was the main contributor in Pak's shortfall. They are the more deserving winners.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I can't really think of any reason for a side losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions. England I must admit has been the best player of spin of all non Asian teams in recent times. To see a side comprising of Cook, Root, Barston, Stokes, Ali and all collapse in this slot is baffling to say the least and can't be attributed to bowling alone. Pitch/ conditions definitely played it's part.

Turning to the Pakistan / Aussie game, Pakistan having to bat under lights was the main contributor in Pak's shortfall. They are the more deserving winners.

What happened to Pakistan batting under lights the 2nd time for two consecutive days?

They forgot to turn the lights on?

 

[stevewittry]

Am not being biased here and am not speaking as a fan for any team. My whole point is that the Conditions should be the same/ similar for both teams to represent a fair contest.

The 2 matches quoted here and several others do not seem to be so and therefore should be part of the umpires / referees' jurisdiction.

Sorry if I have been misunderstood / misinterpreted here.

 

[stevewittry]

What happened to Pakistan batting under lights the 2nd time for two consecutive days?

They forgot to turn the lights on?

I am referring to the first innings which proved fatal for Pakistan. Second innings was more even.

 

[jagatk]

Minefield like seriously, cook played at a rank bad ball which was going to be 4 byes most likely, jennings tried to step out ended up a metre short and then tried to kick the ball. Root missed a sweep whereball barely spun. Moeen showed he is an idiot, stoke was gone to a good ball which was not unplayable and bairstow was another idiot who got out to one of most innocuous balls which did nothing, please tell me where this minefield affected the match.

Also i agree with you, you sir are not biased just dumb. Rather than blaming the pitch blame your mindless stupid batting, maybe next ask the umpires to stop kohli from scoring big hundreds and make him score those 80's like root at least that would make sense.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Minefield like seriously, cook played at a rank bad ball which was going to be 4 byes most likely, jennings tried to step out ended up a metre short and then tried to kick the ball. Root missed a sweep whereball barely spun. Moeen showed he is an idiot, stoke was gone to a good ball which was not unplayable and bairstow was another idiot who got out to one of most innocuous balls which did nothing, please tell me where this minefield affected the match.

Also i agree with you, you sir are not biased just dumb. Rather than blaming the pitch blame your mindless stupid batting, maybe next ask the umpires to stop kohli from scoring big hundreds and make him score those 80's like root at least that would make sense.

And in one simple stroke, jagatk pummels the OP's argument to the ground.

Majority of the dismissals were self inflicted.

Only Stokes dismissal was something you could say the pitch played a bit of a role and that too the "grip" part...not the turn part.

 

[Big Mac]

I can't really think of any reason for a side losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions.

Crap batting.

There's your reason.

 

[Gilly]

I am referring to the first innings which proved fatal for Pakistan. Second innings was more even.

The first inning played under the lights was by Australia on the first day and they didn't lose a wicket.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

This kind of thought process is highly subjective while simply put, this would be extremely controversial to say the least. Umpire intervention should only be brought in, during a match i.e. if anything artificial or man made is compounded to the game; Case in point - Faf's Lolly - Not when something as natural as nature of soil or wind or any other earthly factor determines a change in conditions.

When SL toured England during the English summer earlier this year, there was excessive rain which caused perfect swinging conditions for bowlers. Carrying forward the same logic that you're using, these kind of conditions are normal for the English batters but for a team from the Sub Continent it would be an added difficulty to the much alien conditions on offer.

Non Subcontinental teams, no matter how much they try to deceive themselves will always struggle when playing on turners in the Sub Continent, especially in India. You need proper technique, an intrinsic ability to rise and crouch with the ball's flight, low hands and trigger movement to negate the spinning deliveries that spit from the rough. These kind of things cannot be taught in the nets, they come with game time experience, which subcontinental players do, day in day out, since their U-15/U-13 days.

Also if any leading English, South African, Australian or Kiwi player wants to accomplish a credible repertoire to actually play spin then he/she needs to come and spend game time at the Rajni Trophy or Tournaments like QeA and Irani Cup.

The reverse is true for Subcontinental batsmen but unlike the above mentioned players, cricketers from the sub continent do play in County and Shield games and get to know the conditions over the course of their careers which in turn makes them more rounded cricketers than their Non-Subcontinental counterparts.

 

[stevewittry]

The first inning played under the lights was by Australia on the first day and they didn't lose a wicket.

I believe you will appreciate the difference between batting for a series of sessions before getting into lights vs being made to open under lights.

 

[stevewittry]

And this may not be the decision of on field Umpires. The third umpire / match referees can be delegated with this assessment.

 

[1992CorneredTiger]

India won fair and square, embarrassed England through the series - pitches don't change so drastically in one day that one team scores so freely to the other losing 10 wickets. India took full advantage of home conditions and England were rolled over - nothing unfair about the pitch.

Home advantage is exactly what it should be - home advantage! India may struggle in England under clouds, but then no one would say anything about the wickets not being fair for them.

 

[Napa]

<b>I can't really think of any reason for a side losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions.</b> England I must admit has been the best player of spin of all non Asian teams in recent times. To see a side comprising of Cook, Root, Barston, Stokes, Ali and all collapse in this slot is baffling to say the least and can't be attributed to bowling alone. Pitch/ conditions definitely played it's part.

Turning to the Pakistan / Aussie game, Pakistan having to bat under lights was the main contributor in Pak's shortfall. They are the more deserving winners.

Here are two possible reasons for you to consider. The batting side batted poorly. The bowling side bowled well. Apparently the pitch was fine in the first session, but turned into a minefield over lunch. Wonder if landmines were on the menu?

Anyone with a bit of sense should understand if the umpires had the power to declare a draw, and did exercise that power it would cause a such a big controversy that power would be taken away immediately.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Don't believe me, fair enough, at least read Vic Marks in The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/20/england-india-cricket-test-series-defeat

........... a match that should have been consigned to the record books as a quirky run-fest. Instead it will be remembered for a spineless capitulation triggered not by a batting lineup who do not care but one drained by the demands of an exhausting tour and overwhelmed by the constant excellence of an India side who have ruthlessly exploited their frailties. The result was a procession of batsmen, all with accomplishments at this level, performed like callow novices.

... the pitch was so much more benign than in Dhaka, as the scorecard hints. One difference was the England dressing room had nothing left to give in Chennai; their bodies may still ripple with muscles but their minds are exhausted. No matter how reliable the surface they found a way to get out.

What else is there to add?

 

[Buffet]

I can't really think of any reason for a side losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions.

I will help you here. It's called pathetic batting. Eng won toss 4 times and batted first on pretty much flat track in entire series. Losing 4 tests by a huge margin is simply poor cricket by Eng.

This series has been as flat as you can imagine over 5 tests series.

 

[JaDed]

It will be good once in a while if you see the match and make an argument then read the "timelines" of play.

 

[Tusker]

Lately we observed some instances of a pitch giving undue advantage to a certain side. A typical scenario being day-4/5 wicket being drastically different from the first three to three and half days, thus being of significant disadvantage to side batting last. This is typical of sub continent wickets. England losing 10 wickets in little over 2 sessions on a surface that was apprarently dead for the 4 days suddenly transformed into a minefield thus playing against England. Another scenario being the day night test matches wherein side having to bat under lights has a disadvantage over the opposition. PAK in the recent Brisbane test were the victim. While the degree of advantage or disadvantage is still subjective, do we have a provision within the cricketing laws that allow Umpires to monitor this situation and take a call on whether a particular side gets undue advantage for external factors beyond cricketing skills and call it a draw in such situations.

It's a known fact that home teams prepare surfaces considering their respective strengths but the surface/ conditions should be fair both teams. If not, on field Umpires/ match referees should make due intervention and suspend the match.

While many on this forum may feel that such occurrences of a side enjoying advantage may be evened out in the course of a series but unfortunately not true.

Requesting inputs from friends on this forum.

Eng did not lose a wkt for nearly half a days worth of play on Day 5 !! How did the pitch suddenly change ? Can you logically explain that and back it with sound reasoning and facts ?

Even the most biased English fan will find it hard to blame the pitch here.

 

[street cricketer]

The umpires should also come down hard on captains using mysterious switches that turn the pitch from road in one moment to a minefield in another.

Too often home captains have been allowed to go scot free. The ICC needs to have some accountability after their farce in dealing with the mintgate.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I agree. Umpires should stop the play when they feel opposition lacks quality and are unfairly being pummeled by the other side.

 

[Yossarian]

Also if any leading English, South African, Australian or Kiwi player wants to accomplish a credible repertoire to actually play spin then he/she needs to come and spend game time at the Rajni Trophy or Tournaments like QeA and Irani Cup.

The reverse is true for Subcontinental batsmen but unlike the above mentioned players, cricketers from the sub continent do play in County and Shield games and get to know the conditions over the course of their careers which in turn makes them more rounded cricketers than their Non-Subcontinental counterparts.

This played a big part in the success of the Pakistan team in England in the 70's, '80's and 90's, and the popularity of the Pakistani cricketers amongst England cricket fans, since virtually all of the Pakistani cricketers played County cricket in England during the 70's, '80's, and to some extent, the 90's. And those who did not manage to bag county contracts played club cricket in the Lancashire, Yorkshire and other club cricket leagues.

 

[Robert]

Minefield. English fans, never change.

One English fan, if you please. Avoid generalisations, as they make you look as daft as the OP.

Anyhoo, I can only recall one test match ever being called off due to the pitch - it was in WI when England were about 18-5 on the first morning. The ball was alternatively shooting and steepling and someone was liable to get killed.

 

[Yossarian]

One English fan, if you please. Avoid generalisations, as they make you look as daft as the OP.

Anyhoo, I can only recall one test match ever being called off due to the pitch - it was in WI when England were about 18-5 on the first morning. The ball was alternatively shooting and steepling and someone was liable to get killed.

Especially with the likes of Ambrose and Walsh steaming in and throwing 90 mph projectiles from 10 feet high.

It was 17-3 at Sabina Park in 1998 when the match was abandoned.

There was another WI - England match abandoned after only 10 balls in 2009, due to a poor outfield. The bowlers kept slipping during the run-up.

 

[street cricketer]

I distinctly remember a match getting abandoned at the Feroz Shah Kotla due to a dangerous pitch.

 

[aloo paratha]

More like England and Pakistan need to learn to bat better.

 

[stevewittry]

So here we have another example. Pakistan having to bat with several intervals and under cloudy conditions for the better part of their first innings and Aussies enjoying the better part of sunny perfect batting conditions to post near 650.

And then we had the ball reversing in the later stages of final day which never happened in the better part of the test match.

This is where I wanted the game administrators to do little more thinking to bring about a balance to the game.

I know this may not go well with some of my friends but this is the reality these days.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

So here we have another example. Pakistan having to bat with several intervals and under cloudy conditions for the better part of their first innings and Aussies enjoying the better part of sunny perfect batting conditions to post near 650.

And then we had the ball reversing in the later stages of final day which never happened in the better part of the test match.

This is where I wanted the game administrators to do little more thinking to bring about a balance to the game.

I know this may not go well with some of my friends but this is the reality these days.

Yes, ball was reversing when Pakistan were 100-6 on a flat track today.

 

[Tusker]

So here we have another example. Pakistan having to bat with several intervals and under cloudy conditions for the better part of their first innings and Aussies enjoying the better part of sunny perfect batting conditions to post near 650.

And then we had the ball reversing in the later stages of final day which never happened in the better part of the test match.

This is where I wanted the game administrators to do little more thinking to bring about a balance to the game.

I know this may not go well with some of my friends but this is the reality these days.

Did you actually watch the match ? Aus also batted thru rain interruptions and Pak bowlers also bowled on the same Day 5 pitch. The Pak top order self destructed and then Starc completely blew the tail away.

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

As i feel it was aus who were supposed to play last inning on day five but unfortunately due to rain to most extent it ends up being played by us.

 

[stevewittry]

Another torrid pitch on display wherein side batting first had unfair advantage. Conditions were good for batting on day 3 which the Indians capitalised but then with the wear and tear turned into a minefield on day 4 and by the time Aussies began their run chase. A bad advertisement for test cricket.

 

[Muhammad10]

Wickets for spinners on these pitches deserve more disdain than all the tons our players rack up on the ugly UAE tracks.

 

[jagatk]

Another torrid pitch on display wherein side batting first had unfair advantage. Conditions were good for batting on day 3 which the Indians capitalised but then with the wear and tear turned into a minefield on day 4 and by the time Aussies began their run chase. A bad advertisement for test cricket.

You show up only when india win, pune pitch was a lot worse yet we heard a zilch from you as we lost. Also you though chennia pitch was a unsporting doctored wicket so that tells everything about your level of knowledge of cricket

 

[Tusker]

Another torrid pitch on display wherein side batting first had unfair advantage. Conditions were good for batting on day 3 which the Indians capitalised but then with the wear and tear turned into a minefield on day 4 and by the time Aussies began their run chase. A bad advertisement for test cricket.

Well if you actually watched the match Aussies actually had a huge lead (for a low scoring match) even though they batted 2nd.

And others have pointed out plenty of other issues with your logic but I will be surprised if you actually showed up here and answered those posts.

 

[stevewittry]

You show up only when india win, pune pitch was a lot worse yet we heard a zilch from you as we lost. Also you though chennia pitch was a unsporting doctored wicket so that tells everything about your level of knowledge of cricket

I did mention earlier that the infamous Chennai pitch was turning square on the final day of the test match thereby giving undue advantage to Indian spinners. That where I insisted umpire'so intervention to ensure fair play.

 

[Sachin136]

I did mention earlier that the infamous Chennai pitch was turning square on the final day of the test match thereby giving undue advantage to Indian spinners. That where I insisted umpire'so intervention to ensure fair play.

What about flat pitches which give undue advantage to batsman, or seamer friendly pitches which give undue advantage to seamers? Should all pitches be banned?

 

[stevewittry]

What about flat pitches which give undue advantage to batsman, or seamer friendly pitches which give undue advantage to seamers? Should all pitches be banned?

I am talking about pitches that behave drastically different at different times of the match and thus gives advantage to a certain team. Chennai pitch was an example and the recent Bangalore pitch was another one.

 

[Sachin136]

I am talking about pitches that behave drastically different at different times of the match and thus gives advantage to a certain team. Chennai pitch was an example and the recent Bangalore pitch was another one.

Seamer friendly pitches ease out after a while, so the team bowling first has an advantage.

 

[TahirFan]

Whenever a team from the subcontinent tour South Africa, they get to play on 'green mambas'

 

[Tusker]

I did mention earlier that the infamous Chennai pitch was turning square on the final day of the test match thereby giving undue advantage to Indian spinners. That where I insisted umpire'so intervention to ensure fair play.

So how do you explain Eng not losing any wkts in the 1st session on Day 5 in that Test at Chennai ?

 

[aloo paratha]

Another torrid pitch on display wherein side batting first had unfair advantage. Conditions were good for batting on day 3 which the Indians capitalised but then with the wear and tear turned into a minefield on day 4 and by the time Aussies began their run chase. A bad advertisement for test cricket.

The pitch was fine lol more like Australia just need to play spin better.

 

[EliteCynical]

So let me get this straight

1. Aus won at Pune and India were bundled out for 100 odd in both innings, on a pitch which was deemed as Day 8 pitch on Day 1, but no comment from OP

2. India all out for 189 with Lyon taking 8 fer and Aus score 260 odd in first innings and ye pitch is fine, no comment from OP

3. Aus capitulate to 112 all out, OP wakes up and decides to make an entry in here and give us some precious insight.

Huge respect for being so unbiased!

 

[stevewittry]

I hope now at least the posters would agree with me about umpires intervening on this treacherous pitch in the West Indies. Just yesterday the West Indies middle order were making merry against the Pak bowlers. It took a loose shot for Hope to give Pak an opening but till then the pitch looked harmless.

It is a completely different wicket now. Every second delivery is misbehaving, shooting like a missile.

 

[stevewittry]

Do the current laws allow umpires to call off the match due to unplayable pitch?

 

[Big Mac]

Pitch is dodgy but you still need to bowl well to take advantage of it.

 

[Big Mac]

Do the current laws allow umpires to call off the match due to unplayable pitch?

Yeah, if conditions are dangerous or unreasonable the umpires can suspend play. Laws 3.8 and 3.9. This is why they take players off for bad light or rain for example.

Keep in mind that the law does say that "Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.".

This pitch is not ideal but that isn't necessarily the same as being dangerous or unreasonable.

 

[Tusker]

I thought the OP would bump this thread in disgust after SAF collapsed on the 4th day .... I guess that happens only when certain teams are at the receiving end (especially at the hands of India ) ... thanks for the laughs though.

 

[stevewittry]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

 

[hadi123]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

Well reading the conditions right is part of the game, it's looking like Joe Root didn't, so people are saying he made the wrong decision. Conditions are going to be different at different parts of a 5 day Test match, not much that can be done about it.

 

[JaDed]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

Your thoughts should had come in the second test so as to not see the bias in them

 

[stevewittry]

Your thoughts should had come in the second test so as to not see the bias in them

Conditions in the second test were seam bowling friendly right through the test. India did not get the combination right by playing 2 spinners in seaming conditions.

This test, we had batting friendly conditions in the first innings.

 

[JaDed]

Conditions in the second test were seam bowling friendly right through the test. India did not get the combination right by playing 2 spinners in seaming conditions.

This test, we had batting friendly conditions in the first innings.

Are you kidding?We got overcast conditions in first inning of second test not to forget continuous rain interruptions,also if its so bad in this test now, why is India 98/1 in third innings?

 

[BaankeJi]

Are you kidding?We got overcast conditions in first inning of second test not to forget continuous rain interruptions,also if its so bad in this test now, why is India 98/1 in third innings?

As soon as India started batting, sun came out.

 

[stevewittry]

Are you kidding?We got overcast conditions in first inning of second test not to forget continuous rain interruptions,also if its so bad in this test now, why is India 98/1 in third innings?

Ideal conditions for batting right now. Moreover the 168 runs deficit has a psychological effect.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Conditions in the second test were seam bowling friendly right through the test. India did not get the combination right by playing 2 spinners in seaming conditions.

This test, we had batting friendly conditions in the first innings.

You seem confused or bitter that India has a chance in the 3rd test.

The 2nd test India batted when clouds came on and it swung like crazy.

When England batted the clouds had disappeared and there was no swing.

But Indian fans accepted the 2nd test hiding fair and square.

But you seem bent on proving India has unfair advantage in this test even AFTER india LOST THE TOSS.

 

[jagatk]

Conditions in the second test were seam bowling friendly right through the test. India did not get the combination right by playing 2 spinners in seaming conditions.

This test, we had batting friendly conditions in the first innings.

Your bias knows no boundaries does it, a road like Chennai is a mine field because England collapsed but a game where team bowling first got dark skies and rain in the air while team bowling 2nd got a sunny day is having same conditions.

Also genius how exactly are India 130-2 with bowlers rarely threatening on the same pitch same day, just 30-40 mins apart.

 

[stevewittry]

You seem confused or bitter that India has a chance in the 3rd test.

The 2nd test India batted when clouds came on and it swung like crazy.

When England batted the clouds had disappeared and there was no swing.

But Indian fans accepted the 2nd test hiding fair and square.

But you seem bent on proving India has unfair advantage in this test even AFTER india LOST THE TOSS.

My take is that the better team should win. Unfortunately, the conditions are making the other team look better which is not the case.

Hence conditions should be same for both teams. Administrators must take note of this when they pick up venues for Test matches.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

My take is that the better team should win. Unfortunately, the conditions are making the other team look better which is not the case.

Hence conditions should be same for both teams. Administrators must take note of this when they pick up venues for Test matches.

Why cant India be the better team?

 

[jagatk]

Why cant India be the better team?

His hate for india means it doesn't matter which team is better it can never be India.

 

[stevewittry]

His hate for india means it doesn't matter which team is better it can never be India.

Not true. I want the better team to win and it's not India in this series.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Not true. I want the better team to win and it's not India in this series.

In a 5 test series the better team will win eventually.

Now if you want India to suffer a 5-0 whitewash, perhaps you are no longer wishing for better team to win but hoping for India to get destroyed.

 

[jagatk]

Not true. I want the better team to win and it's not India in this series.

With you it will never be India, then again you are the great mind who in this very thread called the Chennai pitch infamous a word or sentiment used by no other human who watched the game, so it is not surprising.

 

[aloo paratha]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

Bro stop making yourself look like an idiot

 

[Buffet]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

Yah, administrators should do something to keep clouds all the time or no cloud any time, right?

 

[Tusker]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.
?

And if he had got it right you would be happily enjoying that - just like you did in the 2nd Test and few others in the past year. While it is ok to have ridiculous ideas but atleast have the moral fortitude to show up and call it even if it is going against your team .... otherwise you will be ridiculed quite badly.

 

[captain.hansolo]

This latest addition to the thread is the work of an absolutely troubled mind.

Pitch conditions had to little to contribute, it is the weather that has been unreliable. India faced the worst conditions of day 1 in the first one and three quarters sessions, but coasted for the majority of the third session. Thereafter England faced similar conditions on day 2 and capitulated.

Now india have made hay in the last session but will again have to put their nose to the wall to survive tomorrow morning. England will likely begin their chase during conducive conditions before having to blunt the first session or two on day 4 and beyond.

The failure has been england’s inability to survive against an inexperienced attack of pandya and bumrah.

 

[Robert]

English conditions for once give unfair advantage with the toss and teams have to get lucky with the toss and weather conditions going their way.

Joe Root in this game missed a trick by letting the Indians bat first on conditions ideal for batting and then the English team were caught up having to bat under vast overcast unplayable conditions while also under scoreboard pressure.

Time for the administrators / officials to intervene when the conditions start unfairly favouring one particular side by either suspending the game or in this case waiting for conditions to be favourable for both sides. Thoughts ?

Just learn to play swing and seam. Many older Indian batters have done well in these conditions. The current team did fine yesterday, though helped by atrocious English catching.

Similarly many England batters have scored heavily in India, historically speaking.

 

[stevewittry]

Now today is the other scenario that needs to be balanced. Toss playing a vital role in deciding winners. Pitch easing out significantly after the first innings. Pakistan's world class attack otherwise potent and providing lot of variety were totally neutealized by the pitch. Authorities must take note and ensure that balance is maintained and not letting the pitch favouring particular sides.

One way would be to have a DL type formula to adjust the target and increase it appropriately to account for the ineffectiveness of the pitch.

 

[Sachin136]

Now today is the other scenario that needs to be balanced. Toss playing a vital role in deciding winners. Pitch easing out significantly after the first innings. Pakistan's world class attack otherwise potent and providing lot of variety were totally neutealized by the pitch. Authorities must take note and ensure that balance is maintained and not letting the pitch favouring particular sides.

One way would be to have a DL type formula to adjust the target and increase it appropriately to account for the ineffectiveness of the pitch.

Please tell me that you are joking.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Now today is the other scenario that needs to be balanced. Toss playing a vital role in deciding winners. Pitch easing out significantly after the first innings. Pakistan's world class attack otherwise potent and providing lot of variety were totally neutealized by the pitch. Authorities must take note and ensure that balance is maintained and not letting the pitch favouring particular sides.

One way would be to have a DL type formula to adjust the target and increase it appropriately to account for the ineffectiveness of the pitch.

But Pakistan won the toss.

They could have bowled first , in order to not get neutralized by bowling second.

The problem honestly was that Dhawan and Sharma had more talent in their pinky finger than the entire Pakistani bowling lineup.

 

[stevewittry]

Looking at the current Cape Town wicket, the second day's play, with the cracks opening up and climbing steeply and bagging around from a reasonably fuller length, inconsistent bounce. All these factors pointing towards play being called off. The pitch is not going to get any better and it would be unfair to make Pakistan bat again on this wicket. Not to mention any injuries that might happen to batsman.

Is it high time the umpires intervene and call off this match ? This is certainly not a fair contest and Pakistan having to bat with the pitch now in its horrible state.

 

[stevewittry]

Not to mention South Africa batted when the pitch has been ideal for batting and now with the cracks opening up and the pitch starting to do few tricks, it will be Pakistan's turn to bat. A bad advertisement for test match cricket.

 

[Khwaja78]

But Pakistan won the toss.

They could have bowled first , in order to not get neutralized by bowling second.

The problem honestly was that Dhawan and Sharma had more talent in their pinky finger than the entire Pakistani bowling lineup.

Pakistan had lost the toss, S. africa put them into bat.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Pakistan had lost the toss, S. africa put them into bat.

As absurd as it may sound, [MENTION=5727]stevewittry[/MENTION] was talking about one of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup ODIs

 

[stevewittry]

Today I am referring to the on going Pakistan South Africa test match at Cape Town with the pitch increasingly becoming unplayable.

 

[WengerOut]

Today I am referring to the on going Pakistan South Africa test match at Cape Town with the pitch increasingly becoming unplayable.

If last joburg test, which was unplayable from Day 1, was not abandoned, then why this match? That too scoreboard reading 340 odd for 5