by meninblue » Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:07 am
Durhamfootman wrote:how dangerous is this pitch?
I recall that WI pitch where the test match was called off after a handful of overs. If that was a 10, what is this?
I watched all the match yesterday. Almost every ball bowled. The wicket was assisting pace bowlers with every bowl giving a feel that there is a chance of wicket. The cracks were evident from the way the ball was zipping after hitting the wicket. Every player was getting hurt. Even Virat got hurt on fingers in spite of his good form in this series. There were blows on thighs (Ajinkya), fingers (Virat), head (Elgar). So at every height of body there was a blow and the number of blows were more in a test match. Elgar situation was used by Saffers in their favor. He did not judge it properly. That is when the controversy started. Why the umpires did not call off the play when Indian players were getting hit. Maybe they did but Virat wanted to fight it out. Similarly when Elgar got hit maybe Saffers said ok this is threatening and we will opt to walk off at least for the day. Certainly if Indians who do not see such wicket at home can bat on such wickets and score 240, then surely Saffers are better equipped to fight it rather than chickening out looking at a defeat.
The wicket is not very threatening, but it is questionable given the increased count the players have been hit with the ball.
Certainly not the one to call the match off but certainly it is one to be reported by both teams so that it is worked upon for the next test match. Have to see how it is today. Whether the situation progresses from being reported to be called off.
Test FL's - 8 , ODI and Tests Combo FL's - 1, ODI World Cup - 1, ODI FL's - 7, ODI and T20i combo FL's - 1 ,
T20 Franchisee FL's - 7, T20i Cup FL's- 1, T20 FL's- 5 , 50 Overs Domestic FL's - 1, 40 Overs Domestic FL's- 1