IND VS AUS: That’s The Game Of Test Cricket- Former Australian Pacer Belives Hype Has Been Created For Indian Pitches

Indian pitches in Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023 have been in buzz, especially after the last test at Indore, when its surface got a ‘poor’ rating from ICC. India was not able to pick 20 wickets in the third game of BGT 2023 and lost the game by 9 wickets against Australia.

Former Australian pacer, Michael Kasprowicz thinks the hype has been created for Indian pitches, while the visitors need to adjust and adapt to subcontinent conditions.

Kasprowicz recalls Banglore test match pitch in 1998 tour-

“I don’t believe the hype I reckon because for all the attention around the pitches they were typically Indian wickets,” said former Aussie pacer.

Men in Blue had won the first two Tests of BGT at Nagpur and in Delhi where the pitches got an “average” rating by the ICC. The pitch in Indore was rated “poor” as Australia won the game by nine wickets while chasing 76 runs on Day 3 of the third test match.

“I realise this last one in Indore did a few tricks early on, but because they’re starting so early (9.30am), maybe that little bit of moisture helps grab the ball. But at other stages later in the day, it wasn’t doing anything like that,” he further added.

The 51-year-old was one of the architects of Australia’s first Test win in India during the 1998 tour in 29 years. Kasprowicz toured India three times as a player and was part of the 2004 team that won Australia’s only series in India since 1969.

“When I say don’t believe the hype, I know the odd ball was turning square, and it got a poor rating,”

“But I remember turning up to the Bangalore Test in 1998, and I’ve got a picture of me standing on the wicket. It honestly looks like a dry creek bed. There’s no grass, but it’s got these cracks and spider cracks all down the whole face of it,” said Kasprowicz.

All the matches ended on Day 3 in the three test matches till now in India vs Australia clash, from Nagpur to Delhi and Indore. Now Men in Blue has to win the last game of BGT 2023 to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in England, whereas, Aussies have already reached the final of WTC by avoiding a clean sweep in four test match series.

Rohit Sharma-led side will take on Australia for the fourth test of BGT at Ahmedabad on 9th March.

Also read: IND vs AUS 2023: Steve Smith Or Pat Cummins? Australia Confirm Their Captain For Ahmedabad Test