Former Australian pacer Michael Kasprowicz shared his views on the controversy over the pitches offered in the first three Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India.
With the four-match Test series being 2-1 in favour of Team India, the spinners are, as expected, making the batters’ lives tough and enjoying success with the ball. Well, the hosts have been criticised for preparing the turning pitches for the mega Test series.
However, Kasprowicz failed to understand why so much attention is being given to the pitches, as they are "typical" Indian wickets, where Australia needs to "adapt and adjust" instead of complaining.
Michael Kasprowicz told The Age: “I don’t believe the hype I reckon because for all the attention around the pitches they were typically Indian wickets. I realise this last one in Indore did a few tricks early on, but because they’re starting so early (9.30am), maybe that little bit of moisture helps grab the ball. But at other stages later in the day, it wasn’t doing anything like that.”
He continued, “When I say don’t believe the hype, I know the odd ball was turning square, and it got a poor rating. But I remember turning up to the Bangalore Test in 1998, and I’ve got a picture of me standing on the wicket. It honestly looks like a dry creek bed.
There’s no grass, but it’s got these cracks and spider cracks all down the whole face of it. And you just go well, like that’s what we’re gonna play on. And guess what? We’ve got to adapt and adjust. That’s the game of Test cricket.”
Meanwhile, after losing the opening Test in Nagpur, Australia dominated the first two days of the Delhi Test but lost the match by six wickets and eventually found success in the third Test in Indore.
Speaking on Australia’s fightback against India, Kasprowicz noted: “Obviously, after the Delhi experience of that second innings, the Australians adapted to the conditions and did really well. And so come the second innings they were 1/76 and got through (to victory).”
He signed off by saying, “(Travis) Head and Marnus (Labuschagne) batted really well. They found a way, and that’s what Australia’s been known to do over all these years.”
(With PTI Inputs)
