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Cricket

‘ICC should step in and do something…’: Former Australian cricketers criticise India’s ‘doctored’ Nagpur surface before first Test

Every time a Test series is staged in India, charges are levelled that the hosts are creating a wicket that is disproportionately favourable to them. With only one day till India and Australia begin their Border-Gavaskar series in Nagpur, a few Australian ‘experts’ have accused India of ‘doctoring’ the surface to favour their squad. A few photographs of the pitch leaked on social media on Tuesday, with Steve Smith saying that the wicket was ‘very dry’. The Australian batsman also went into depth, implying that left-arm spinners are set to get a lot of aid. Back in Australia, several former cricketers and academics have urged on the International Cricket Council to step in.

After soaking the whole pitch, the Nagpur pitch curators rolled only the centre of it. Watering was increased outside the left-leg hander’s stump. This approach perplexed the Australian squad and the media, and it garnered harsh criticism from past cricketers.

Team India will try to build on their strong start to the year when they face Australia in the eagerly awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India has won the last three editions and will be hoping for a similar performance this time around, since a favourable result will also secure Rohit Sharma and Co. the final slot at the World Test Championship, which will be contested in Oval later this year.

Former Australia all-rounder Simon O’Donnell advocated for ICC action to prevent India from getting an edge.

“The ICC should step in and do something about it, if they think it’s not right,” O’Donnell said on SEN Breakfast. “If they think the pitch is not right, there’ll be an ICC referee at the game and the ICC will be watching this game. But there are so many when it comes to India, we have all of these discussions, and nothing seems to happen. If they really think there’s a pitch here that doesn’t play to the normal standards of Test cricket and the characteristics of this ground, then the ICC need to do something,” he added.

The Indian cricket fraternity has slammed the assertion, with batting veteran Sunil Gavaskar and former India coach Ravi Shastri slamming the outsiders. Rohit Sharma has also expressed his thoughts on the matter, urging that the focus be on cricket rather than the ground.

During an interview with reporters, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar said that international players should be prepared for any challenge, before adding that India does not expect turning pitches in Australia.

“When you become an international cricketer, you are supposed to play on any kind of surface in the world. Those are challenges of travelling. When we go to Australia, we don’t expect turners there. We know nature of the surface is going to be a little bouncy and more pace in it and upfront movement of seam. So is the case with Australian team, when they are in India. They know that there will be turn and nature of the surface will be slowish,” said Tendulkar.

Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who has toured India several times, believes India is attempting to suffocate Australia with spin because they believe it is their greatest chance of winning the four-match Test series and qualifying for the World Test Championship final.

It is tough to forecast, but this is not something that Indian pitch curators have done for the first time. This tactic of selective pitch treatment is used to create an illusion in the minds of the visiting squad. Less rolling and more watering on the side often leaves the top layer of the pitch loose, making the surface seem dusty at first, but it settles down by the second day and begins to help spinners aim at a certain length.

Because the pitch is dry, spinners will obviously benefit from the surface. As a result, the Indian side is allegedly intending to use three spinners in the playing XI.

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