“We are seeing too many underprepared pitches that last only 3 days max!! Test cricket is over 5 days for a reason”, former English cricketer took the twitter to express his disappointment after watching the third Test between India and South Africa  at Vidarbha Cricket Association, Jamtha, Nagpur. 30 wickets all in two days.

The series has seen the highest total on the first day as India as scored 215. India’s innings forecasted for how many days the Test is going to last. South Africa Simon Harmer, who was dropped from the second Test in Bangalore has taken four wickets to restrict India in 215 runs.

Nagpur pitch which is turning from the first session of the first day offered plenty to the spinners that make the job of spinners easier. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja turned the ball as per their wish to make South African batsmen dance on the track. For South Africa Simon Harmer has taken four wickets while Imran Tahir has taken a fifer 

Glenn Maxwell of Australia, who made his debut in Hyderabad, criticised the pitch, “this wicket is diabolical!! 9 legitimate wicket chances in the first hour with 3 plays and misses every over!”

South Africa starting the day 11 for 2 suffered the biggest collapse as they lost three more wickets on second day morning which is the worst start of an innings in Test cricket. The previous record is held by Australia against South Africa in 1902. In Capetown, Australia lost their top 5 for 14 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 14th fifer of his career while Ravindra Jadeja has taken four wickets.

India’s second innings tumbled for 173. India got 309 runs lead which will be an uphill task for South Africa to chase. Imran Tahir has taken second career fifer.

Indian fans have taken the twitter to condemn the pitch where South Africa, who are currently the number one team in ICC Test ranking and have not lost any series on foreign soil since 2006, struggled to find a clue on how to play against Indian spinners.

The turning wicket of Vidarbha Cricket Association, Jamtha, Nagpur also did not go down well with former cricketers. They took the twitter to criticise the pitch.  But, they were also criticised for not saying anything when their team won series allegedly tempering the pitches. Recently England have made suitable pitches for their bowlers and won the Ashes series after suffering a heavy defeat at the hand of Australia at the Lord’s. Lats week historic Perth has seen 1672 runs, the highest Test score in one match. 

Australia is also notorious for preparing fast wicket for their bowlers.

Here is how the former cricket legends and experts criticised the wicket, which many termed an example of declining Test cricket.

Sudipta Biswas

Sports Crazy man, Live in cricket, Love writing, Studied English journalism in Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Chose sports as the subject for study, Born 24 years ago during the 1992 Cricket world...

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