March 13, 2023
The Quagmire of Doctored Pitches
Syed Rifaquat Ali
The four-match Test series between host India and Australia, played in February-March this year, which India won 2-1, and marred by controversial pitches, doctored favorably for the home team, prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to punish India after receiving the report from the match referee Chris Broad who said after the third Test in Indore which Australia won by nine wickets: "The pitch which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favoring spinners."
Australian great Mark Waugh was particularly critical of the pitch on the first day, saying it was not up to Test standard.
And Matthew Hayden was even more scathing, telling the host broadcaster: "This is why I've got a problem with these conditions. There is no way in the world that a spin bowler should come on in the sixth over. You've got to give batters a chance. Day one, day two should be about batting."
But what was bizarre was that Ravichandran Ashwin, right arm spinner, opened the bowling attack in one of the Tests which is unheard of in cricket history.
The Indore pitch used for the third Test between India and Australia has been marked as "poor" and handed three demerit points. If a venue accumulates five or more demerit points, it is suspended for twelve months from hosting any international cricket.
It is the prerogative of the host country to get a Test pitch prepared which benefits both the batsman and bowler equally. But it has now become customary with the host country to educate the curator to get the pitch prepared in favour of home team which negates fair play.
The ICC must take cognizance of it to ensure that Test matches are not affected by the
controversial pitches. In fact, the ICC should get Test wickets prepared through its directly appointed Curators, otherwise, the host country will never desist from this unethical practice.
And the players will always be denied to perform their best. It is not only India which is the culprit in this context.
All cricket-playing countries follow this unethical practice which smears fair play.
Syed Rifaquat Ali is JoA correspondent in Sydney
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Published since July 2008 |
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