India lost 9 wickets within two sessions on Day 5 in Chennai.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer has described the pitch on day 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai used in the recent opening Test of the four-match Test series against India as the worst surface that he has ever seen despite the tourists’ stunning 227-run win on Tuesday (February 9).
After the end of the first Test between India-England, the Chepauk pitch came under immense scrutiny as the pitch was criticized for being as flat as a pancake on the first two days, whereas the surface produced uneven bounce and even dust started coming out from it in the last three days.
Criticizing the tricky Chepauk pitch, Archer called it the worst surface he has seen on Day 5 in Tests while pointing out the surface was orange in color and had big rough patches for the bowlers to aim at.
Archer wrote in his column for Daily Mail: “I’d not played first-class cricket here (in India) before last week, but I know from experience of the IPL that most wickets in India deteriorate significantly, and seeing how the pitch changed during this Test shows us what we have in store.”
The speedster further added, “On the fifth day it was probably the worst surface I’ve seen — its orange color, bits missing, rough patches for the bowlers to aim at.”
England bowlers bowled out India for a mere 192 in just 58.1 overs on the final day of the first Test match and Archer said he was confident of the bowling group dismissing the home side on Day 5 but didn’t expect to finish as early as one hour after the lunch break in Chennai.
He further added, “When we walked out in search of nine wickets on the fifth day, I was very hopeful we would complete the job — although these India players have big reputations and are at home, so should be able to cope with conditions better than anyone. So, I didn’t expect us to skittle them. Equally, I didn’t expect it to finish not long after afternoon drinks.”
Archer claimed three wickets in the first Test and was confident of performing at the same level in the second Test starting on February 13 at the same venue in Chennai.
He signed off by saying, “There are only three days between Tests, and we use a rotation policy for the fast bowlers, but I have played back-to-back Tests before and, even though the heat can be taxing here, I know I can perform to the same level again.”