IND v ENG 2021: Sir Vivian Richards slams England for “moaning and groaning” about the pitches

England were bowled out for 112 and 81 during their 10-wicket defeat in the Day-Night Test.

By Salman Anjum - 01 Mar, 2021

West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards has lambasted England for complaining about the turning pitch for the third Test and added that he wants to see a similar track in the final Test of the series.

See Also: Another turning track on the cards; Umesh, Kuldeep likely to replace Bumrah, Sundar

The Day-Night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium finished inside two days with the hosts winning it by 10 wickets. England were bowled out for 112 and 81, while India scored 145 in the first innings before chasing a 49-run target without any hiccup.

After the game, former England captains such as Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Sir Alastair Cook criticized the nature of the pitch. On the other hand, the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin have defended it, saying that the batting performance from both teams was below-par.

"I've been asked questions recently about the Test match that was played in India... the second and third Test match against England. And I am a little confused about the question really because there seems to be a lot of moaning and groaning about the wicket that they were playing on," Richards said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

"I just felt that the ones who are moaning, in my opinion, should realise that there are times that you're going to get a seaming track, a ball that is basically jumping off a good length and everyone thinks that's a problem for batters. There are times batters sometimes cope with that.

"But now you've seen the other side, and this is why I think it was given the name Test match cricket, because of the test of the mind and will and everything else that goes with it when you're competing.

"And the complaints have been that the wicket is spinning too much and all that sorts of stuff. This is another side of the arc guys.

"People seem to forget that if you're going to India, you should expect that. You are going to spin land. You should basically prepare yourself to know what you're going to encounter rather than the moaning and groaning, especially just recently how quickly that Test match was over.

"It gives England an opportunity and a chance to assess things, to believe that for some reason the wicket that they're going to encounter in the fourth Test is going to be the same.

"If I was India or I had anything to do with the preparations of the wicket, I would bring in very much the same," he added.

The former West Indies skipper also hailed the Virat Kohli-led Indian side and said England need to come out of their comfort zone.

"Ever since that first Test match, England were in their comfort zone. They have now been taken out of their comfort zone at present and they have got to find ways and means to cope with what they are going to encounter," Richards said.

"Spin in all part of the game, this is what a Test match brings. The Indian pacers have been brilliant over the past few years in terms of substance, wicket-taking ability and stuff like that.

"But now that you're in India, you are going to encounter things and have got to find a way. You're going to get dirty. There is nothing in the rule book that says I've got to score my runs in pretty, classical ways," he further remarked.

"I just believe all the moaning and groaning has got to stop and just see the classical side of things in terms of the Indian armoury. And from where I'm sitting, it's good to see," he concluded.

India’s victory in the third Test also ensured that England get knocked out of the World Test Championship. Now, only India and Australia are contenders to book a place in the final against New Zealand.

Ahmedabad will host the fourth and final Test, starting Thursday (March 4).

(With ANI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 01 Mar, 2021

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