Aussie Cricket
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BCCI could be fined for 'surface of Mars' Test pitch in Pune
The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI could be fined almost $20,000 for producing a poor pitch in Pune
The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI could be fined almost $A20,000 for producing a “poor” pitch in Pune, where the first Test finished inside three days. The controversial wicket, which was likened to “the surface of Mars” by Shane Warne, provided plenty of assistance for spinners from both Australia and India.
Steve O’Keefe spun the visitors to a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series by claiming a haul of 12-70, the best ever match figures by a visiting spinner in India. Local media have alleged Pune curator Pandurang Salgaonkar was forced to kowtow to BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh in the lead up – an Indian Express report claims ground staff were ordered to doctor the pitch, including the use of metallic brushes to scuff up the dry deck.
Match referee Chris Broad branded the pitch “poor” in his formal report and the BCCI now has 14 days to provide a response to the International Cricket Council, which will then review the matter and has the power to issue a warning or fine of $A19,500.
A similar scenario played out in Nagpur in 2015, when South Africa were spun out on a raging turner inside three days. Match referee Jeff Crowe rated that strip as “poor”. Yet, even if the BCCI is fined the full amount, it will amount to pocket change for the world’s most powerful cricket organisation.
The expectation is the pitch for the second Test, which starts in Bangalore on Saturday, will be far flatter.
The Pune track was widely criticised by former India players, with Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh all claiming it helped Australia’s cause. Australia skipper Steve Smith suggested the hosts “played into our hands” by preparing the dry deck that delivered Australia’s first Test win in India since 2004.
Chief executives from cricket boards around the world flagged the need for stricter pitch punishments earlier this month at a round of ICC meetings. “Venues and boards should be more accountable for the standard of pitches and outfields they present for international matches,” the ICC said in a statement.
However, the proposed demerit point system would punish individual venues instead of boards. In this instance, the BCCI was reportedly responsible for the pitch doctoring.
AAP
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I'm a bit torn on this. I actually don't mind a pitch that turns - it provides a point of difference to most pitches around the world and allows the spinners to really come into their own. It obviously wasn't impossible to bat on, otherwise how did Smith get a ton? The pitch they served up against SA last year was a fair bit worse from memory, but of course India won that match so the outrage was subdued.
At the end of the day India's batsmen were fucking dire and all this talk about the pitch is just a distraction from how poor they were. Some of the shots they got out too had nothing to do with the pitch - more a bowler putting it on the spot and the Indians getting frustrated.
I really don't want to see the ICC pushing for flat tracks everywhere. You play in SA you expect fast bouncy pitches. You play in Asia you expect dustbowls that turn a mile. You play in NZ you expect a green wicket (NZC A GREEN FUCKING WICKET PLEASE). That's part of the fun of the International game.
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I loved that pitch. Was a fantastic test to watch. Great fun.
Not all the time, though, I suppose.
I find the traditional Indian wicket to be boring as. Win toss and bat for almost 2 days (if your good enough).
I liked all the pitches for NZ tour to India , just frustrated we lost all the tosses. They were interesting enough to give the poorer team a chance if they won the toss.
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I said earlier in the year, i prefer that pitch to the fucking roads of Australia. They had to change the timing and the ball to make Adelaide tests watchable.
I'm sure the BCCI are devo over a $20K fine
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@No-Quarter said in Aussie Cricket:
It obviously wasn't impossible to bat on, otherwise how did Smith get a ton?
A few dropped catches and complete misunderstanding of DRS helped
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@NTA said in Aussie Cricket:
@No-Quarter said in Aussie Cricket:
It obviously wasn't impossible to bat on, otherwise how did Smith get a ton?
A few dropped catches and complete misunderstanding of DRS helped
I'd say the majority of hundreds scored require at least one, if not more fairly significant pieces of luck.
On a side note it was great to see India get fucked by the DRS.
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BWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAHAHAHA! Oh fuck.
Kohli offers no shot to Aussie spin again | cricket.com.au
India captain out without playing a shot for the second straight innings, this time leg before to…
Not sure if you can see the vid on this page, but this is basically it in a nutshell:
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@Donsteppa oi don't over egg it aye
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@mariner4life said in Aussie Cricket:
@Donsteppa oi don't over egg it aye
True, Watson wouldn't have walked after that first replay.
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@mariner4life to be fair to @Donsteppa Watson never got himself in that position - he would have had the front foot down the pitch.
India losing regular wickets - now 156/5 and will be hoping their hero Ashwin stays there for a couple of hours. Tea imminent, India 156/5
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Some great stats to digest already.
Lyon's 8 for 50 - best by a visiting bowler in India
A statistical breakdown of Nathan Lyon's record against India's top order
