Last Update: February 08, 2023, 18:00 IST
Former Australian cricketer Simon O’Donnell
On Tuesday, such pictures came to the fore at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur that first water was poured on the entire pitch. Then only the middle part of the pitch was rolled out, and only the left-handed batsman had extra water outside his leg stump.
Former Australia cricketer Simon O’Donnell has sought intervention from the International Cricket The Council (ICC) has courted controversy over the preparation of the Nagpur pitch for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy match starting on Thursday.
On Tuesday, such pictures came to the fore at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur that first water was poured on the entire pitch. Then only the middle part of the pitch was rolled out, and only the left-handed batsman’s left-handed batsman had extra water outside his leg stump.
Many have suggested that the pitch preparation strategy is due to Australia potentially fielding David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey and five left-handed batsmen. India Countering him with the spin of either Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel.
“The ICC should step in and do something about it if they feel it is not right. If they feel that the pitch is not right, then there will be an ICC referee in the match and the ICC will look into the game.”
“But a lot happens when it comes to India, we have all these discussions, and nothing is what it seems. If they really think that there is a pitch here that is not up to the normal standards of Test cricket and the characteristics of this ground, then the ICC needs to do something,” O’Donnell said on the SEN Breakfast show.
Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie said on the SEN WA Breakfast Show that India is shaping the pitch according to their home advantage. “I think the Indian curators are looking for a way to be an advantage for India.”
“They potentially think spin will play a big role and their best chance of beating Australia will be to play to their strengths. Here in Australia, the curators are under instructions to prepare the best possible pitch, which is Across Australia.”
After playing the first Test at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, India and Australia will play the next three Tests in New Delhi (17-21 February), Dharamsala (1-5 March) and Ahmedabad (9-13 March).
India is the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the last three series against Australia in 2017, 2018-19 and 2020-21, while Australia last won a Test series in India in 2004.
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