Dont think many whinged that Cape Town pitch should be reported. Just whinging at the fact that had the same happened on a SC wicket with the spinners doing the damage (a la Mumbai 2004), it is immediately reported. Its not like spinners are part of cricket or anything, is it?
To an extent, you can predict which way the ball is gonna seam but not how much. That is just humanly impossible. Even McGrath has said that, when we chatted up to him once in Chennai. You set the field, bowl the ball (in swinger or out swinger) and then await events. You can of course guess the amount of movement based on previous deliveries but you can never really judge it to any great certainty.
Now I'm not an expert by any means on pitches, but is it not the case that if a pitch is dusty and turning square on day one, then there's a degree of underpreparation that's gone on?
nope.. There were unseasonal rains that prevented them from preparing ahead of time. And in any case, that pitch was not dangerous and if players can't play on a track that turns, then it is their problem.
I'm not talking about the Mumbai 04 pitch specifically. From watching the highlights on Rob's YouTube channel I don't remember it looking particularly dusty. And IMO there's a difference between not being able to handle a spinning track and watching Michael Clarke turn it square en route to 6/9.
That is the problem. You are judging the pitch because Clarke got 6/9. But Clarke bowled as well as any spinner did on that track and it was easier to face the ball turning into you than the one turning away from you on that track. The pitch was not unplayable. And Aussies batted just as bad as they did in Cape Town then. Trust me, there was nothing wrong with the track. Were they difficult conditions for batsmen? Yes, they were. Does it justify the complaints? No way in hell.
Might be. But under-preparation is still preparation. As long as the track is not gonna cause you physical harm, as a cricketer, you just gotta play on it. If it swings too much or spins too much, is not an issue. Those are part of cricket as much as flat decks are.
Preaching to the converted mate.
I thought the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia was great viewing because the pitch made things challenging for the batsmen.
yeah.. not really directing at you per se. Have read your views on this quite a few times now. But generally.Preaching to the converted mate.
This is what we're talking about though, being able to know which way it will go. That is possible. It doesn't have to swing to move in a given direction either (I'm not sure if that's what you're suggesting or not).
This is what we've been talking about too though...to a certain extent the bowler does have control over which way it goes. He will know which direction he's attempting to move it (or which direction he regularly moves it) and, surprisingly, that's the way it goes more often than not. Seam bowlers generally don't bowl with the seam pointing straight down the wicket and hope it does something either way.
Personally I reckon they look at more than just how many wickets fell and how quickly when they're deciding if a pitch is suitable or not. I could be wrong though.
No, they basically go by the captain and match referee's reports and there are some idiots out there being referees who happened to think spinning tracks are not meant for cricket.