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The pitch – should it be the captains choice?
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in General Cricket
47 ViewsWasim Akram has said that Younis Khan should have had a say in the preparation of the pitch in Karachi which saw four 150+ scores made on it. I suppose the fact that Pakistan had not played a Test for quite some time has drawn extra attention to the pitch we saw in Karachi but it raises the question of how much say a home team should have in the preparation of a pitch.
Yes, home advantage is fair but how far should this go?…far enough to spoil a Test match? Should the home fans and other conditions (apart from the pitch) be home advantage enough?
We’ve seen many examples where a home team, having drawn the first match and won the second is now 1-0 up coming into the last Test of a 3 match series, and they ask for a flat wicket and then fill the team with batsmen in order to play for a draw. We’ve seen such a tactic employed by sides such as India who have arguably the best batting line up in Test cricket so make full use of it. Of course, it is their right but is winning worth so much that a spectacle for the fans does not even come into the equation?
How much of a say should the home team/captain have on the pitch or should the ICC implement certain rules to encourage results in Test matches. It would be difficult but twenty20 is already harming Test match cricket enough without Test match cricket harming itself.
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February 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I’m an Indian fan and agree with the general message of this post. I think India did employ this kind of tactic against Australia recently. I’m not sure if they would go so far against other sides….may be the rivalry against the Aussies (them being number one and all the controversies), made us want to win what ever the cost.
I’m sure there were many Indian fans disappointed with the spectale but may be the winning would have cheered them up.
It’s a difficult one.
February 26th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Interesting one. I think some teams do take it too far when playing for draws to secure a series.
The ICC should give less points to drawn Test matches. This would encourage teams to play for a result.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Good point by dahda peerzada about having less points for draws. In regards to the ICC, I think the only rule they have about pitches/outfields at the moment is that they must be playable….
…and sometimes, as recently seen in the Windies, they get that wrong too!
February 27th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I think it’s just a part of the bigger problem. The game is batsmen friendly and is getting more so. I cannot imagine how the bowlers must feel slugging it out all day on pitches like the one we saw in Karachi.
Something needs to be done for the bowlers. I for one find a batsmen getting bowled more exciting than a bowler getting hit for a 6 or 4.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I agree Shez. Cart wheeling stumps are always more exciting then 4s and 6s