Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Mackay pitch used for the Australia vs Bangladesh second Test, calling out the hypocrisy involved if a match in India had come to an end in just two days. Australia thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs as the visitors failed to cross 100 in both innings. The Aussie batters also struggled during their only innings, with Cameron Green scoring 67 runs, and only four batters crossing the double-figure mark. It was the fourth-shortest Test match in the history of the game, with only 750 balls bowled.
Writing in his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar called out the double-standards in play when it comes to analysing Indian and Australian pitches. He also claimed that excuses would come from down under, with everything but the pitch coming under scrutiny.
“So, another Test match in Australia has finished within two days. This has happened four times there in the last few years. And we are yet to hear any criticism of the trampoline-bounce pitches that produce such results. The excuses will come thick and fast. ‘Oh, the groundsman, sorry, turf executive, got it wrong.”
“He went by the weather forecast, which predicted some hot weather, so he left a little more grass, and that led to the excessive bounce.’ Or the other cricketing excuse that the batters didn’t have the technique to cope with the bounce and it wasn’t the fault of the pitch. This last excuse could be faintly accepted if the home team batters had batted well, but when even the home batters can’t stitch a run or a decent partnership together, then what does it tell you about the pitch?” said Gavaskar.
‘INDIAN MANAGEMENT IS OPEN ABOUT WANTING PITCHES TO SUIT THEIR STRENGTHS’
Gavaskar said that the pitch in Mackay was no surprise after the Aussies were beaten by Bangladesh in the first Test. The Indian legend feels that the double standards in pitch rating comes from the fact that the Indian team management is open to having tracks that will suit their strengths.
“The pitch in Mackay was no surprise. After the Aussies were humiliated by the Bangladeshis in the first Test, they were going to prepare a pitch that would be fast and bouncy. And, of course, claim that the groundsman had done it on his own and there were zero instructions from the team management. We all know what really happens. It’s just that the Indian management is open about wanting pitches to suit its bowling strength while those from the old powers will do the little whispering and nudging and get a surface that they need,” said Gavaskar.
Gavaskar said that it won’t be a surprise if there’s no adverse rating for the Mackay pitch, but if the same thing had happened in India, then the knives would have been out and coming for Indian cricket, BCCI and the Indian curators.
“It will be interesting to see the report and rating for the Mackay pitch by the match referee. There’s generally been a desire among the referees to get brownie points from the media of the old powers, so it won’t be a surprise if there’s no adverse rating for the Mackay pitch just as we have seen for similar two-day finishes in recent years.”
“But lo and behold, if a game finishes in three days in India, there will be all kinds of derogatory reports and insinuations made about the pitches, BCCI and Indian cricket. The hypocrisy is so brazen that it is simply mind-boggling,” said Gavaskar.
The Mackay pitch is reportedly set to be rated as very good by the ICC.
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