The third Test match between India and England at the World’s biggest stadium has triggered a raging debate between former players over the nature of the pitch and whether such pitches are fit to host a Test match.
Several former players have criticised the viciously turning Motera pitch where India defeat England by 10 wickets inside two days.
On being asked about the pitch in the post-match press interaction, England captain Joe Root said that it was a challenging surface but as players, you have try to adjust to the conditions. "I think that this surface, it's a very challenging one, is a very difficult one to play on. It is not for players to decide whether it is fit for purpose or not and that is up to the ICC. As players we are going to try and counter what is in front of us as best as we can," he said.
Former India batting stalwart Yuvraj Singh took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the pitch.
“Finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket! If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kind of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800?” he tweeted.
Harbhajan Singh said the Motera pitch is not the ideal pitch for a Test match. "It is not an ideal pitch. India would also have been in trouble if England had scored 200 in their first innings. But it (the pitch) is the same for both sides," said the 40-year-old off-spinner.
Former England cricketers were also very critical of the pitch.
To have a pitch like this for one match is fine as batsmen’s skill is put to test. But I would not like to see a pitch like this again and I think none of the other players want to see it either. Well done India,” Former England star Kevin Peterson tweeted in Hindi.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan called the pitch “Shite”
However, on the other side of the debate, Former England spinner Graeme Swann slammed the English team for playing just one spinner in a Test match in India where pitches are generally spin-friendly. "You cannot come to India and play just one spinner in a Test match and get way on this wicket," he said.
Defending the pitch, Indian Legend Sunil Gavaskar said the overtly defensive mindset of the batsmen was responsible for their dismissals as most of them got out to straighter deliveries.
On Thursday, India defeated England by 10 wickets to go 2-1 up in the four-match series. Both the teams will play the fourth and final Test match of the series in Ahmedabad on March 4.
Also Read | India vs England: Spin twins Axar, Ashwin shine as India thump England by 10 wickets
(With inputs from PTI)
