SA tour of India, Sept 29-Dec 7

[hopeforthebest]

SA said the pitch looked weird before the game and looking at the spin from the middle of the pitch you can see what they meant. India's score looks good now.

[Aidan11]

Two down.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Surprised Duminy isn't playing is he injured?

He's got a hand injury. A mere flesh wound, so should be back in the next game.

[hopeforthebest]

I wonder if questions will be asked about the fitness of this pitch for test cricket?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Why's that?

I like pitches that result in scores of 200-400.

Nottingham and Birmingham were borderline acceptable first day pitches this year.

[The Professor]

Kumble was complimentary of the pitch. Said it was ideal for spinners.

Over on the England thread we're moaning about the lack of valid spin options and now were moaning when grounds produce turning tracks.

[Aidan11]

It has the making of a good test match.

[Dr Cricket]

I wonder if questions will be asked about the fitness of this pitch for test cricket?

Can I ask why.

[backfootpunch]

Why's that?

I like pitches that result in scores of 200-400.

Nottingham and Birmingham were borderline acceptable first day pitches this year.

I think test cricket would be improved if it was reduced to 4 days and the groundsmen encouraged to produce pitches that assist the bowlers

What is better to watch 399-2 or 200 all out plays 30-2

[hopeforthebest]

Kumble was complimentary of the pitch. Said it was ideal for spinners.

Over on the England thread we're moaning about the lack of valid spin options and now were moaning when grounds produce turning tracks.

What has the lack of England spinners got to do with a debatable pitch in India. Anyway it's not moaning to wonder what people think about a pitch that has prodigious turn on the morning of a test.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think the view of a pitch as being one that offers help to pace early on, giving way to a good batting pitch and spin towards the end, has had its day. It was always an anglocentric ideal anyway, and one that England have been happy to abandon as suits them. As long as the bowlers are in the game throughout, any type of bowler, then I think that is a legitimate pitch. Asian countries have been criticised (at times with some cause) for producing 600 plays 600 pitches. Providing spin on the first day is fine. I doubt India has produced a green pitch ever. An Indian pitch should help the spin, and not just on day five. These pitches that turn early on don't have to break up. The one in Sharjah turned on day one, and the game was still being played on day five.

[The Professor]

Kumble was complimentary of the pitch. Said it was ideal for spinners.

Over on the England thread we're moaning about the lack of valid spin options and now were moaning when grounds produce turning tracks.

What has the lack of England spinners got to do with a debatable pitch in India. Anyway it's not moaning to wonder what people think about a pitch that has prodigious turn on the morning of a test.

The death of spin is coming about through anodyne and increasingly similar tracks. Without track variation the next generation of cricketers will feature no spin bowlers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Although... it might have been messy if SA actually had any very good Test spinners.

[hopeforthebest]

Although... it might have been messy if SA actually had any very good Test spinners.

When a part time spinner with 6 test wickets at 47 suddenly takes 4-22 on the first morning of a test It suggests the pitch is hardly a reasonable competition between bat and ball.

[Arthur Crabtree]

VJ got 75 without much luck. And SA specialist spinners didn't blast out the top order. Maybe Elgar was just the man on the spot on the day. And India have had frailties against spin recently.