I’ve got my tin hat on, and my fishing rod out and I’m off my long run for this one.
The 3rd Paytm test match between England and India was an absolute travesty, a farce, a load of bollocks, whatever you want to call it. A test match should not be over in under 2 days. Nor should a test match wicket be a dust bowl from day one either, there was no contest between bat and ball, as Andrew Strauss said perfectly, it was a “lottery” if you got out or not ball on ball.
Now, we all recognise that Joe Root got his team selection wrong, we accept that. But what is unacceptable was the pitch, yes the same for both sides and blah blah blah, but I thought the days of 2 day tests were over. I can’t recall from recent memory a pitch created with a bigger home advantage in mind.
The ball exploded off the surface from pretty much ball one, and turned square after 8 overs of the first morning, that’s not creating a fair battle, that’s a home side ensuring that they win a game, nobody wants to watch that, it’s dull as ditch water if the batsman hasn’t go a chance of staying in, maybe India felt embarrassed losing the first test match to England so heavily.
If England had been bowled out on day 4 or 5 on that day 1 pitch then I think it’s fair to say that as fans we’d have accepted our fate. That game did nothing but tarnish the reputation of not only the BCCI, the grounds man, but test match cricket as a whole. It did nothing to promote the game in England, even with a start time that was perfect for UK viewers and on free to air tv.
Indian fans with short memories on Twitter and Facebook were keen to mock and gloat about their victory, forgetting that Joe Root, the part time off spinner had ripped through them like a hot knife through butter, and they in fact were humbled for under 150 in the first innings.
They were quick on the draw to tell England fans they only needed tomorrow off and were ready for the 4th test the next day. I wonder if they’ll be so loud, bold bitter and salty after the upcoming series here over the summer.
I will say, that the new ground at Ahmedabad is stunning, and I can’t wait to see it full, with a pitch that offers both bat and ball a chance. But I doubt we’ll see anything other than a repeat of the pitch for the last test, why would India change it? When they need to win 3-1 to qualify for The World Test Championship Final.
What I do hope to see though is a change in the host broadcasters commentary team, their bias seemingly knowing no bounds. I forget which England player was subjected to a high pitched squeal come appeal from Pant behind the stumps but a clear inside edge meaning India lost a review, the English batsman was labelled “a lucky batsmen” by the commentary team to which Graeme Swann interjected and said “well he hit it” the next ball was a sharp spinning play and miss “well he didn’t hit that one” absolutely fucking pathetic.
And as for non neutral umpires, I’m just going to roll my eyes and utter umpires call under my breath.
Cheers, The Fat Man
Fat Lad Sports 