Sunil Gavaskar, a former Indian opener, criticized the hypocrisy of comparing pitches from India to those outside the subcontinent after the second Australia-Bangladesh Test ended in less than two days. The Pacers controlled the encounter, as the Aussies won by an innings and 51 runs in Mackay.
It was the fourth shortest Test match in history, with only 750 balls bowled over two innings. Bangladesh were dismissed for less than 100 in both innings, whereas Australia's 210 in their only innings was sufficient.
However, the Mackay pitch is expected to be assessed as 'very good' by the ICC, in striking contrast to comparable circumstances in India. Experts from all around the world have frequently criticized India's pitches for Tests that last two or three days.
"Another Test match in Australia has finished within two days. This has happened four times there in the last few years. And we are yet to hear any criticism of the trampoline-bounce pitches that produce such results. The excuses will come thick and fast. ‘Oh, the groundsman, sorry, turf executive, got it wrong'. Or the other cricketing excuse that the batters didn’t have the technique to cope with the bounce and it wasn’t the fault of the pitch,” Gavaskar wrote in Sportstar.
“The pitch in Mackay was no surprise. After the Aussies were humiliated by the Bangladeshis in the first Test, they were going to prepare a pitch that would be fast and bouncy. And, of course, claim that the groundsman had done it on his own and there were zero instructions from the team management. We all know what really happens,” he added.
Australia suffered a shocking defeat in the opening Test against Bangladesh, losing by nine wickets in Darwin.
According to Sunil Gavaskar, the Indian management's willingness to favor particular wicket conditions is the reason behind the disparities in pitch ratings. The former batter also accused the ICC match referees of giving preference to Australia and England, two more powerful nations.
"It’s just that the Indian management is open about wanting pitches to suit its bowling strength, while those from the old powers will do the little whispering and nudging and get a surface that they need. There’s generally been a desire among the referees to get brownie points from the media of the old powers, so it won’t be a surprise if there’s no adverse rating for the Mackay pitch," said Gavaskar.
"But lo and behold, if a game finishes in three days in India, there will be all kinds of derogatory reports and insinuations made about the pitches, the BCCI, and Indian cricket. The hypocrisy is so brazen that it is simply mind-boggling,” he added.
Gavaskar also criticized the disparity between the criteria used to evaluate bowlers and batters from non-Asian teams and those from the subcontinent.
(Sportstar inputs)
