that is correct. and i thought it was a good pitch since the batsmen really had to bat out of their skins to survive. and some did.
on another note; watson - not really a main bowler - took 5 wickets in 21 balls in the second innings of this match.
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Pitch Bitch.
- Thread starter hang on
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on another note; watson - not really a main bowler - took 5 wickets in 21 balls in the second innings of this match.
Cevno
Hall of Fame Member
So?
Watson took 5 wickets in 21 balls yesterday on this track moving the ball both ways everywhere of the seam, and a Spinner wasn't even required.
And tbf to Clarke, he bowled pretty well that day while Hauritz who was supposed to be the "main spinner" struggled while Sachin,Martyn and Laxman showed how to survive on it.
good spot. had forgotten this one.
Shri
Mr. Glass
Kumble's favourite pitches to bowl on. Those pitches test the batsmen too. You just have to cut back on horizontal bat shots and play in the V with good technique to survive and score runs.
We have to get into Sabina Park in 1998 terrirory before we really start talking about terror pitches.
This pitch was pretty ridiculous by the end though 3rd Test: England v South Africa at Nottingham, Aug 14-18, 2003 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
This pitch was pretty ridiculous by the end though 3rd Test: England v South Africa at Nottingham, Aug 14-18, 2003 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
/*Rant Begins*/
You know how many men label a woman a 'bitch' the moment she turns down their advances? I think batsmen blaming such spicy pitches is somewhat similar. It's because in this day and age they are so used to piling on runs on national highways and state highways, the moment they encounter a real deck, their technique is inadequate.
Their 50+ inflated averages and even more inflated egos take a huge hit and they seek the easy escape route - throwing a bitchfit. What's the easiest excuse? Blame the pitch, blame the selectors, blame the team management - anyone but yourself.
And usually a juicy deck cops most of the blame. A deck similar to the one seen in Cape Town.
A good test strip should mean that bowlers have to work for their wickets and the batsmen are supposed to grind their runs in somewhat challenging conditions. A lot of modern FTBs have conveniently forgotten the second part of the equation. Nothing wrong with Cape Town, IMHO. I didn't see an undisciplined Johnson or Siddle running through sides. It was good channels and proper seam presentation from Philander, Steyn, Watson and Harris that reaped the rewards and I'm not sure how anyone can complain about any sort of unfairness there.
Too much was made of the Galle track as well. While it behaved indifferently on the first day, a test match pitch has to be judged on its merit over the duration of 5 days. On that note, I think the pitch was fine and once again, you had the case of pus*y batsmen whinging when their inflated averages and egos (and perhaps lucrative advertisement deals
) take a hit.
A man ground out 90-odd on the same track on the first day with application and skill. Which proves that true merit (whether in batting or bowling) never goes unrewarded on any surface. When opening batsman and skipper Dilshan (with a 40+ "test" batting avg., btw) pushes at length deliveries outside off with feet firmly encased in alabaster, you would excuse me for suggesting that the first neck under the axe shouldn't be the poor pitch curator's.
/*Rant Ends*/
You know how many men label a woman a 'bitch' the moment she turns down their advances? I think batsmen blaming such spicy pitches is somewhat similar. It's because in this day and age they are so used to piling on runs on national highways and state highways, the moment they encounter a real deck, their technique is inadequate.
Their 50+ inflated averages and even more inflated egos take a huge hit and they seek the easy escape route - throwing a bitchfit. What's the easiest excuse? Blame the pitch, blame the selectors, blame the team management - anyone but yourself.
And usually a juicy deck cops most of the blame. A deck similar to the one seen in Cape Town.A good test strip should mean that bowlers have to work for their wickets and the batsmen are supposed to grind their runs in somewhat challenging conditions. A lot of modern FTBs have conveniently forgotten the second part of the equation. Nothing wrong with Cape Town, IMHO. I didn't see an undisciplined Johnson or Siddle running through sides. It was good channels and proper seam presentation from Philander, Steyn, Watson and Harris that reaped the rewards and I'm not sure how anyone can complain about any sort of unfairness there.
Too much was made of the Galle track as well. While it behaved indifferently on the first day, a test match pitch has to be judged on its merit over the duration of 5 days. On that note, I think the pitch was fine and once again, you had the case of pus*y batsmen whinging when their inflated averages and egos (and perhaps lucrative advertisement deals
) take a hit. A man ground out 90-odd on the same track on the first day with application and skill. Which proves that true merit (whether in batting or bowling) never goes unrewarded on any surface. When opening batsman and skipper Dilshan (with a 40+ "test" batting avg., btw) pushes at length deliveries outside off with feet firmly encased in alabaster, you would excuse me for suggesting that the first neck under the axe shouldn't be the poor pitch curator's.
/*Rant Ends*/
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Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
Cut a long story short.
Definition of a poor test strip/ground:
1) Where there's a realistic chance of the batsmen sustaining serious injuries. Like Sabina Park, 1998
2) Where the bowler's runup and outfield is so ****ed up that play cannot resume. Like Antigua, 2009
3) Where the track is an absolute road - and has historically always been one - in the interests of the home team and against the interests of a fair cricketing contest. Quite a few examples there.
Definition of a poor test strip/ground:
1) Where there's a realistic chance of the batsmen sustaining serious injuries. Like Sabina Park, 1998
2) Where the bowler's runup and outfield is so ****ed up that play cannot resume. Like Antigua, 2009
3) Where the track is an absolute road - and has historically always been one - in the interests of the home team and against the interests of a fair cricketing contest. Quite a few examples there.
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morgieb
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Wasn't that at the Viv Richards Stadium?
Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
Yeah, that was the one.
Thanks! Sabina was the one where Taylor and Benn tore through England!
Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
True. My post wasn't aimed at the batsmen who played this particular test. In fact, the way Clarke has batted and conducted himself has been admirable.
More like a general rant about cricketers and the cricketing public discouraging juicy pitches and good turners. The complaint lodged regadring the Galle pitch and subsequent ICC intervention was totally unnecessary, IMHO!
NasserFan207
International Vice-Captain
You know what, I'm tired of the obsession with pitches. People always seem to forget that all you need to bowl a side out is ten deliveries. Cricket is a game of fine margins and sometimes things just 'happen'.
There's far too much analysis of pitches these days, which is ironic considering how similar most are in this era. People need to give it a rest and focus on the skills/performances of the players.
Also, what happened to giving the opposition credit for simply being better? Enough already.
There's far too much analysis of pitches these days, which is ironic considering how similar most are in this era. People need to give it a rest and focus on the skills/performances of the players.
Also, what happened to giving the opposition credit for simply being better? Enough already.
Son Of Coco
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Sometimes you have to try to distinguish between the performance of the team and the quality of the pitch though. If you bowl **** you'll go for a lot of runs on any pitch. Saying any pitch where a team scores more than 500 is a flat deck without looking at what was tossed up by the bowlers is a bit silly.
Similarly the same applies for a pitch where a lot of wickets fall in quick succession. The first test wicket in SA was fine in my opinion. There weren't any demons in it, just a bit of movement.
The only wickets which deserve to be blasted are those which are up and down with inconsistent bounce, thus making it dangerous, and those which have been dramatically altered from how they originally play for the benefit of one team.
It gets ridiculous when the usual suspects dive in trying to criticise every pitch where a team gets out for a low score because someone once criticised one of their wickets. Misses the point completely, and is quite stupid frankly.
Son Of Coco
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I feel so, so special 
Lillian Thomson
Hall of Fame Member
Add sticky to square turner and variable bounce and you have Headingley 1972 from just after lunch on the first day.