Cry baby Australia say Nagpur pitch is ‘doctored’ for BGT series

In Australia, some of the experts and former cricketers asked for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) intervention if it thinks something is not right.

Cry baby Australia say Nagpur pitch is ‘doctored’ for BGT series

Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins

Just a day is left for the start of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and debates on pitches being tailor-made for the Indian side don’t seem to stop. Today, that is on Wednesday (February 8), the two captains of the side, Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins posed with the trophy between them at Nagpur. But behind them, the Aussies could be seen inspecting the pitch.

As per a report in Fox Cricket, reporters claimed that the center of the pitch was watered and rolled but the exact area which will be targeted by the left-handed batsmen was left dry at both ends of the wicket. Australia has left-handed batters like David Warner, Usman Khawaja, and Travis Head, so some Aussies have accused India of making things difficult for them.

Previously, current and former players blamed India for not preparing turning tracks during the warm-up matches, which is why they opted out of playing tour games. After the pictures of the pitches stormed the internet, Aussie vice-captain Steve Smith called it “pretty dry” which will help the spinners the most.

Despite Aussie media’s accusation of selectively watering to make a “doctored” pitch, skipper Pat Cummins said home advantage is part of the challenge of Test cricket. He did not reveal the XI but conceded that their left-handed batters have to work extra hard.

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Aussies lamenting nothing is happening against India for their pitches

Nagpur Pitch
Nagpur Pitch

In Australia, some of the experts and former cricketers asked for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) intervention if it thinks something is not right. “The classic saying about pitches is, ‘Oh, it’s the same for everyone,” Robert Craddock said on SEN. “When the Gabba pitch had too much grass left on it, people were saying, ‘Yes, it was not a great wicket, but it was the same everyone.’

“But you can’t say that about this pitch. Australia has six left-handers in their top eight, so if you start multi-preparing parts of the deck that’s straight-up pitch doctoring, it’s poor.“

Former Australia all-rounder Simon O’Donnell said that the ICC should look into the matter. “The ICC should step in and do something about it if they think it’s not right,” he said. He added that if ICC doesn’t think the pitch is not right then there will be an ICC referee at the game and the ICC will also be watching the game. He lamented that there are so many such pitches in India, but despite that “nothing seems to happen“.

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