Feed Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Chennai: Are the pitches for Test cricket becoming increasingly batsmen-friendly? Andy Atkinson, International Cricket Council?s consultant on pitches, has been critical of pitch preparation for Test cricket. The making of pitches ... More... Link to comment
bharat297 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Yes ... been happening for a while. Administrators want to guarantee 5 days of revenue because for them ... 10,000 a day for 5 days is better than 15,000 a day for 3 days, so therefore they push curators to ensure that pitches are flatter This is my theory. I dont think its happening everywhere round the world ... India is one place where I think it most definitely is happening. Link to comment
Anakin Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Also the same pitches are likely to be used for T20s, so the pitches are becoming too batsman-friendly. Link to comment
graphic23 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I want pitches that can be a minefield on day3 , please. Thanks. Link to comment
Ram Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Worldwide,the trend has been of flatter and flatter pitches. Some of the recent test match pitches in countries like west indies, pakistan and India have been an absolute disgrace that have made a mockery of the fundamental ethos of cricket - A game that claimed to be contest between bat and ball. Even the places like australia, england and new zealand that were previously the last refuge of bowlers have seen docile pitches recently. Link to comment
f.b.m Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Focusing a bit on the positives though, South Africa has produced some very good pitches where the ball seams (and thats balanced with the swing thats available, if it swings more then it doesnt seam as much and vice versa) for the first 30-35 overs, turns for anyone prepared to give it a rip and has random spouts of nasty (and sometimes uneven) bounce for people who're pacy and are prepared to pound it in. I cant seem to remember any pitch that I'd call "flat" there for donkey's years. England hasnt been that bad either in terms of wickets and except for the odd batting paradise, tend to have enough for the swing bowlers or something for the spinners. But on the other hand ... ... .. Link to comment
King Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I don't know if it's the flat pitches or the advent of ODIs and Twenty20s that are producing better batting efforts. I don't subscribe to the feeling that pitches in the past were any great to play. Aussie pitches in the 80s and 90s were flat as. There used to be so many draw those days in test cricket because the batsmen weren't looking forward to scoring runs quickly enough. I don't have the stats now but there are more results in test cricket these days. West Indies and Pakistan are two countries that produce result less wickets. Pakistan has been a shocker and West Indies aren't far behind. Aussie, Indian, Kiwi, Saffie and England wickets have been pretty good. They have accounted for some good series in the last 5-10 years. Link to comment
hassan_113 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 The way I see it- they are. Perth is a road vs the pacy pitch it used to be, Lord's is a pancake- how many results have there been there in the last few years? WI and Pak pitches are generally useless. As far as Pakistan is concerned- the India series of 2004 was good and Lahore and Pindi had good pitches. This all links in to the topic I created about cricket changing for the worse. But SA is quality- the pitches there produce some great matches and importantly the bowler always has a chance. As far as Ashes are concerned- the counties would probably prefer a draw over 5 days than an England win in 3 days- so that means more money for them. Link to comment
King Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Perth has produced results in 4 test matches out of the last 5 and has produced results in 8 test matches out of last 10. That is a fantastic record for the ground. As for Lords is concerned, recent results (draws) has been because of bad ight and rain. Pakistan has killed test cricket big time anyways. As I said if you dig up the results you will see there's less draws in this decade compared to past decades. It's more of a myth than reality that pitches have gone flatter. Last few series' and results : India v NZ - 3 test match series - India won 1-0 (Last test match was a drawn one due to rain not because of flat pitch) Australia in India, September - November 2008 - 4 test match series India won it 2-0 New Zealand in Bangladesh, October 2008 - 2 test match series - NZ won it 1-0 (First 3 days of the Last test match were rained off) Bangladesh in South Africa, November - December 2008 - 2 test match series - South Africa won 2-0 England in India, November - December 2008 - 2 test match series - India won 1-0 New Zealand in Australia, November 2008 - February 2009 - 2 test match series Aus won 2-0 West Indies in New Zealand, December 2008 - January 2009 - 2 test match series Drawn series (2 test matches and both were rain marred 2 days of the first test was rained off and ) Sri Lanka in Bangladesh, December 2008 - January 2009 - 2 test match series Sri Lanka won it 2-0 South Africa in Australia, December 2008 - January 2009- 3 test match series SA won it 2-1 England in West Indies - 5 test matches WI won it 1-0 Australia in South Africa - 3 test match series Aus won it 2-1 NZ in England 2008 - 3 test match series - England won it 2-0 Aus in WI 2008 - 3 test match series - Aus won it 2-0 SA in England 2008 - 4 test match series - SA won it 2-1 Ind in SL 2008 - SL won 2-1 Looking at the results above how can you ever say the pitches are getting flatter? As I said before it's a myth. There are more results produced these days compared to the good old days when people used to just play cricket with out much positive outlook or to produce good aggressive cricket. They used to bowl 70 overs a day and play defensive cricket. Test cricket in fact has evolved and should be left alone. Barring couple of countries that produce pitches absolutely flat so that the home country can't lose it has been a fairly decent result producing pitches around the world. Just because batsmen score runs it doesn't mean the pitches have gotten flatter. If there are enough favourable results being produced why tinker with it. Pakistan and WI should of course be said to prepare sporting pitches. They are two countries that are making mockery of test cricket. Good riddance test cricket from Pakistan, they were not capable of producing decent result producing pitches anyways. Series/Tournament Season Winner Margin Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India in Australia) 1999/00 Australia 3-0 (3) England in South Africa Test Series 1999/00 South Africa 2-1 (5) South Africa in India Test Series 1999/00 South Africa 2-0 (2) Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series 1999/00 Sri Lanka 2-1 (3) Zimbabwe in West Indies Test Series 1999/00 West Indies 2-0 (2) Trans-Tasman Trophy (Australia in New Zealand) 1999/00 Australia 3-0 (3) Pakistan in West Indies Test Series 1999/00 West Indies 1-0 (3) Zimbabwe in England Test Series 2000 England 1-0 (2) Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series 2000 Pakistan 2-0 (3) South Africa in Sri Lanka Test Series 2000 drawn 1-1 (3) The Wisden Trophy (West Indies in England) 2000 England 3-1 (5) New Zealand in Zimbabwe Test Series 2000/01 New Zealand 2-0 (2) India in Bangladesh Test Match 2000/01 India 1-0 (1) Zimbabwe in India Test Series 2000/01 India 1-0 (2) England in Pakistan Test Series 2000/01 England 1-0 (3) New Zealand in South Africa Test Series 2000/01 South Africa 2-0 (3) Zimbabwe in New Zealand Test Match 2000/01 drawn 0-0 (1) The Frank Worrell Trophy (West Indies in Australia) 2000/01 Australia 5-0 (5) Sri Lanka in South Africa Test Series 2000/01 South Africa 2-0 (3) England in Sri Lanka Test Series 2000/01 England 2-1 (3) Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia in India) 2000/01 India 2-1 (3) Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series 2000/01 drawn 1-1 (3) Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (South Africa in West Indies) 2000/01 South Africa 2-1 (5) Bangladesh in Zimbabwe Test Series 2000/01 Zimbabwe 2-0 (2) Pakistan in England Test Series 2001 drawn 1-1 (2) India in Zimbabwe Test Series 2001 drawn 1-1 (2) Clive Lloyd Trophy (West Indies in Zimbabwe) 2001 West Indies 1-0 (2) The Ashes (Australia in England) 2001 Australia 4-1 (5) India in Sri Lanka Test Series 2001 Sri Lanka 2-1 (3) South Africa in Zimbabwe Test Series 2001/02 South Africa 1-0 (2) Zimbabwe in Bangladesh Test Series 2001/02 Zimbabwe 1-0 (2) India in South Africa Test Series 2001/02 South Africa 1-0 (2) West Indies in Sri Lanka Test Series 2001/02 Sri Lanka 3-0 (3) Trans-Tasman Trophy (New Zealand in Australia) 2001/02 drawn 0-0 (3) England in India Test Series 2001/02 India 1-0 (3) Bangladesh in New Zealand Test Series 2001/02 New Zealand 2-0 (2) South Africa in Australia Test Series 2001/02 Australia 3-0 (3) Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka Test Series 2001/02 Sri Lanka 3-0 (3) Pakistan in Bangladesh Test Series 2001/02 Pakistan 2-0 (2) Pakistan v West Indies Test Series (in United Arab Emirates) 2001/02 Pakistan 2-0 (2) Zimbabwe in India Test Series 2001/02 India 2-0 (2) Asian Test Championship (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Pakistan/Sri Lanka) 2001/02 Sri Lanka Australia in South Africa Test Series 2001/02 Australia 2-1 (3) England in New Zealand Test Series 2001/02 drawn 1-1 (3) New Zealand in Pakistan Test Series 2002 Pakistan 1-0 (1) India in West Indies Test Series 2001/02 West Indies 2-1 (5) Sri Lanka in England Test Series 2002 England 2-0 (3) New Zealand in West Indies Test Series 2002 New Zealand 1-0 (2) Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Test Series 2002 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) India in England Test Series 2002 drawn 1-1 (4) Australia v Pakistan Test Series (in Sri Lanka/United Arab Emirates) 2002/03 Australia 3-0 (3) Bangladesh in South Africa Test Series 2002/03 South Africa 2-0 (2) West Indies in India Test Series 2002/03 India 2-0 (3) Pakistan in Zimbabwe Test Series 2002/03 Pakistan 2-0 (2) Sri Lanka in South Africa Test Series 2002/03 South Africa 2-0 (2) West Indies in Bangladesh Test Series 2002/03 West Indies 2-0 (2) India in New Zealand Test Series 2002/03 New Zealand 2-0 (2) Pakistan in South Africa Test Series 2002/03 South Africa 2-0 (2) The Ashes (England in Australia) 2002/03 Australia 4-1 (5) South Africa in Bangladesh Test Series 2003 South Africa 2-0 (2) New Zealand in Sri Lanka Test Series 2003 drawn 0-0 (2) The Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia in West Indies) 2002/03 Australia 3-1 (4) Zimbabwe in England Test Series 2003 England 2-0 (2) Sri Lanka in West Indies Test Series 2003 West Indies 1-0 (2) Bangladesh in Australia Test Series 2003 Australia 2-0 (2) Bangladesh in Pakistan Test Series 2003 Pakistan 3-0 (3) South Africa in England Test Series 2003 drawn 2-2 (5) New Zealand in India Test Series 2003/04 drawn 0-0 (2) Southern Cross Trophy (Zimbabwe in Australia) 2003/04 Australia 2-0 (2) South Africa in Pakistan Test Series 2003/04 Pakistan 1-0 (2) England in Bangladesh Test Series 2003/04 England 2-0 (2) Clive Lloyd Trophy (West Indies in Zimbabwe) 2003/04 West Indies 1-0 (2) England in Sri Lanka Test Series 2003/04 Sri Lanka 1-0 (3) Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series 2003/04 Pakistan 1-0 (2) Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India in Australia) 2003/04 drawn 1-1 (4) Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (West Indies in South Africa) 2003/04 South Africa 3-0 (4) Bangladesh in Zimbabwe Test Series 2003/04 Zimbabwe 1-0 (2) Australia in Sri Lanka Test Series 2003/04 Australia 3-0 (3) South Africa in New Zealand Test Series 2003/04 drawn 1-1 (3) The Wisden Trophy (England in West Indies) 2003/04 England 3-0 (4) India in Pakistan Test Series 2003/04 India 2-1 (3) Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe Test Series 2004 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) Bangladesh in West Indies Test Series 2004 West Indies 1-0 (2) New Zealand in England Test Series 2004 England 3-0 (3) Sri Lanka in Australia Test Series 2004 Australia 1-0 (2) South Africa in Sri Lanka Test Series 2004 Sri Lanka 1-0 (2) The Wisden Trophy (West Indies in England) 2004 England 4-0 (4) New Zealand in Bangladesh Test Series 2004/05 New Zealand 2-0 (2) Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series 2004/05 drawn 1-1 (2) Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia in India) 2004/05 Australia 2-1 (4) Trans-Tasman Trophy (New Zealand in Australia) 2004/05 Australia 2-0 (2) South Africa in India Test Series 2004/05 India 1-0 (2) India in Bangladesh Test Series 2004/05 India 2-0 (2) Pakistan in Australia Test Series 2004/05 Australia 3-0 (3) Zimbabwe in Bangladesh Test Series 2004/05 Bangladesh 1-0 (2) Basil D'Oliveira Trophy (England in South Africa) 2004/05 England 2-1 (5) Zimbabwe in South Africa Test Series 2004/05 South Africa 2-0 (2) Pakistan in India Test Series 2004/05 drawn 1-1 (3) Trans-Tasman Trophy (Australia in New Zealand) 2004/05 Australia 2-0 (3) Sri Lanka in New Zealand Test Series 2004/05 New Zealand 1-0 (2) Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (South Africa in West Indies) 2004/05 South Africa 2-0 (4) Bangladesh in England Test Series 2005 England 2-0 (2) Pakistan in West Indies Test Series 2005 drawn 1-1 (2) West Indies in Sri Lanka Test Series 2005 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) New Zealand in Zimbabwe Test Series 2005/06 New Zealand 2-0 (2) The Ashes (Australia in England) 2005 England 2-1 (5) Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Test Series 2005/06 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) India in Zimbabwe Test Series 2005/06 India 2-0 (2) ICC Super Series Test Match (ICC World XI in Australia) 2005/06 Australia 1-0 (1) The Frank Worrell Trophy (West Indies in Australia) 2005/06 Australia 3-0 (3) England in Pakistan Test Series 2005/06 Pakistan 2-0 (3) Sri Lanka in India Test Series 2005/06 India 2-0 (3) South Africa in Australia Test Series 2005/06 Australia 2-0 (3) India in Pakistan Test Series 2005/06 Pakistan 1-0 (3) Sri Lanka in Bangladesh Test Series 2005/06 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) England in India Test Series 2005/06 drawn 1-1 (3) West Indies in New Zealand Test Series 2005/06 New Zealand 2-0 (3) Australia in South Africa Test Series 2005/06 Australia 3-0 (3) Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series 2005/06 Pakistan 1-0 (2) Australia in Bangladesh Test Series 2005/06 Australia 2-0 (2) New Zealand in South Africa Test Series 2005/06 South Africa 2-0 (3) Sri Lanka in England Test Series 2006 drawn 1-1 (3) India in West Indies Test Series 2006 India 1-0 (4) South Africa in Sri Lanka Test Series 2006 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) Pakistan in England Test Series 2006 England 3-0 (4) West Indies in Pakistan Test Series 2006/07 Pakistan 2-0 (3) Sri Lanka in New Zealand Test Series 2006/07 drawn 1-1 (2) The Ashes (England in Australia) 2006/07 Australia 5-0 (5) India in South Africa Test Series 2006/07 South Africa 2-1 (3) Pakistan in South Africa Test Series 2006/07 South Africa 2-1 (3) India in Bangladesh Test Series 2007 India 1-0 (2) The Wisden Trophy (West Indies in England) 2007 England 3-0 (4) Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Test Series 2007 Sri Lanka 3-0 (3) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2007 India 1-0 (3) South Africa in Pakistan Test Series 2007/08 South Africa 1-0 (2) New Zealand in South Africa Test Series 2007/08 South Africa 2-0 (2) Warne-Muralitharan Trophy (Sri Lanka in Australia) 2007/08 Australia 2-0 (2) Pakistan in India Test Series 2007/08 India 1-0 (3) England in Sri Lanka Test Series 2007/08 Sri Lanka 1-0 (3) West Indies in South Africa Test Series 2007/08 South Africa 2-1 (3) Bangladesh in New Zealand Test Series 2007/08 New Zealand 2-0 (2) Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India in Australia) 2007/08 Australia 2-1 (4) South Africa in Bangladesh Test Series 2007/08 South Africa 2-0 (2) England in New Zealand Test Series 2007/08 England 2-1 (3) Sri Lanka in West Indies Test Series 2007/08 drawn 1-1 (2) South Africa in India Test Series 2007/08 drawn 1-1 (3) New Zealand in England Test Series 2008 England 2-0 (3) The Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia in West Indies) 2008 Australia 2-0 (3) Basil D'Oliveira Trophy (South Africa in England) 2008 South Africa 2-1 (4) India in Sri Lanka Test Series 2008 Sri Lanka 2-1 (3) New Zealand in Bangladesh Test Series 2008/09 New Zealand 1-0 (2) Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia in India) 2008/09 India 2-0 (4) Bangladesh in South Africa Test Series 2008/09 South Africa 2-0 (2) Trans-Tasman Trophy (New Zealand in Australia) 2008/09 Australia 2-0 (2) England in India Test Series 2008/09 India 1-0 (2) West Indies in New Zealand Test Series 2008/09 drawn 0-0 (2) Sri Lanka in Bangladesh Test Series 2008/09 Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) South Africa in Australia Test Series 2008/09 South Africa 2-1 (3) Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series 2008/09 drawn 0-0 (2) The Wisden Trophy (England in West Indies) 2008/09 West Indies 1-0 (5) Australia in South Africa Test Series 2008/09 Australia 2-1 (3) India in New Zealand Test Series 2008/09 India 1-0 (3) Link to comment
King Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Another interesting statistics to prove the pitches getting flatter is not a recent phenomenon. Ignore the matches played against the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe during this decade. You don't need to play on flat tracks to score against the likes of Bangladesh and Zimboks. There is only one game in the top 10-15 games that needs to be considered seriously and that was the game between India and Pakistan in Lahore. As I said above the pitches in Pakistan are absolute shambles because they want their public (whatever little number turns up to watch test cricket) to turn up and watch the likes of Afridi score runs. On top of that they don't have a team capable of taking 20 wickets in a test match so they carry on producing pitches that don't get results. : Highest average of runs per wicket in Test Matches Team Score Ave Overs Inns Opposition Ground Match Date Scorecard South Africa 442/1d 442.00 162.0 2 v New Zealand Christchurch 11 Mar 1999 Test # 1449 India 410/1 410.00 77.2 2 v Pakistan Lahore 13 Jan 2006 Test # 1781 India 361/1d 361.00 93.0 3 v West Indies Kolkata 29 Dec 1978 Test # 839 West Indies 344/1 344.00 66.1 4 v England Lord's 28 Jun 1984 Test # 990 Australia 323/1d 323.00 87.0 3 v New Zealand Perth 12 Nov 1993 Test # 1235 England 531/2d 265.50 118.0 2 v South Africa Lord's 28 Jun 1924 Test # 154 England 264/1 264.00 80.0 3 v South Africa The Oval 17 Aug 1929 Test # 185 West Indies 790/3d 263.33 208.1 2 v Pakistan Kingston 26 Feb 1958 Test # 450 Sri Lanka 713/3d 237.66 165.3 2 v Zimbabwe Bulawayo 14 May 2004 Test # 1699 South Africa 470/2d 235.00 130.5 2 v Bangladesh Chittagong (MAA) 24 Apr 2003 Test # 1640 England 459/2d 229.50 140.0 2 v India Birmingham 4 Jul 1974 Test # 741 New Zealand 450/2d 225.00 176.0 1 v India Delhi 16 Dec 1955 Test # 418 England 223/1d 223.00 82.0 2 v South Africa Durban 16 Jan 1931 Test # 204 Australia 215/1 215.00 44.0x8 4 v England Adelaide 31 Jan 1947 Test # 282 India 610/3d 203.33 153.0 1 v Bangladesh Dhaka (SBNS) 25 May 2007 Test # 1833 Australia 202/1d 202.00 45.1 3 v England Brisbane 23 Nov 2006 Test # 1817 South Africa 600/3d 200.00 139.0 1 v Zimbabwe Harare 7 Sep 2001 Test # 1562 Zimbabwe 197/1 197.00 71.1 4 v New Zealand Bulawayo 1 Nov 1992 Test # 1198 New Zealand 196/1d 196.00 73.0 3 v Pakistan Christchurch 15 Mar 2001 Test # 1536 Pakistan 581/3d 193.66 166.0 1 v India Hyderabad (Sind) 14 Jan 1983 Test # 946 Pakistan 382/2 191.00 126.0 2 v Australia Faisalabad 6 Mar 1980 Test # 878 England 186/1 186.00 81.4x8 4 v Pakistan Hyderabad (Sind) 2 Jan 1978 Test # 813 Pakistan 555/3 185.00 162.5 2 v Sri Lanka Faisalabad 16 Oct 1985 Test # 1026 South Africa 183/1 183.00 48.0 4 v Australia Melbourne 26 Dec 2008 Test # 1902 Pakistan 546/3d 182.00 114.5 2 v Bangladesh Multan 29 Aug 2001 Test # 1560 New Zealand 543/3d 181.00 268.0 2 v West Indies Georgetown 6 Apr 1972 Test # 696 New Zealand 181/1 181.00 63.4 4 v Australia Wellington 15 Mar 1990 Test # 1141 India 537/3d 179.00 177.0 1 v New Zealand Chennai 6 Jan 1956 Test # 420 New Zealand 178/1 178.00 71.0 2 v India Napier 9 Feb 1990 Test # 1138 England 528/3d 176.00 112.0 2 v Bangladesh Lord's 26 May 2005 Test # 1751 Pakistan 174/1 174.00 82.0 3 v Zimbabwe Lahore 16 Dec 1993 Test # 1241 Australia 172/1 172.00 29.1 4 v Zimbabwe Sydney 17 Oct 2003 Test # 1663 South Africa 171/1 171.00 59.4 4 v England Birmingham 15 Jun 1929 Test # 181 India 505/3d 168.33 183.0 3 v New Zealand Mohali 10 Oct 1999 Test # 1462 New Zealand 671/4 167.75 220.3 3 v Sri Lanka Wellington 31 Jan 1991 Test # 1162 South Africa 166/1 166.00 51.0 4 v England Nottingham 7 Jun 1947 Test # 285 Australia 166/1 166.00 29.3 4 v New Zealand Auckland 26 Mar 2005 Test # 1744 Pakistan 165/1 165.00 47.3 4 v Bangladesh Peshawar 27 Aug 2003 Test # 1657 Australia 328/2 164.00 135.0 3 v England Sydney 29 Jan 1988 Test # 1090 Australia 653/4d 163.25 193.0 1 v England Leeds 22 Jul 1993 Test # 1227 England 653/4d 163.25 162.0 1 v India Lord's 26 Jul 1990 Test # 1148 Australia 641/4d 160.25 152.0 1 v England The Oval 23 Aug 2001 Test # 1558 Sri Lanka 952/6d 158.66 271.0 2 v India Colombo (RPS) 2 Aug 1997 Test # 1374 West Indies 317/2 158.50 93.1 4 v Pakistan Georgetown 13 Mar 1958 Test # 452 England 475/3d 158.33 168.0 2 v Australia Lord's 26 Jun 1926 Test # 164 Australia 632/4d 158.00 196.0 1 v England Lord's 17 Jun 1993 Test # 1224 South Africa 155/1 155.00 51.1 4 v India Port Elizabeth 26 Dec 1992 Test # 1206 West Indies 154/1 154.00 24.5 4 v Pakistan Georgetown 18 Mar 1977 Test # 801 Sri Lanka 756/5d 151.20 185.1 2 v South Africa Colombo (SSC) 27 Jul 2006 Test # 1810 West Indies 751/5d 150.20 202.0 1 v England St John's 10 Apr 2004 Test # 1696 India 600/4d 150.00 169.0 1 v Australia Sydney 2 Jan 1986 Test # 1034 Australia 300/2d 150.00 119.1 3 v West Indies Bridgetown 9 Mar 1973 Test # 716 Link to comment
kumble_rocks Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Another interesting statistics to prove the pitches getting flatter is not a recent phenomenon. Ignore the matches played against the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe during this decade. You don't need to play on flat tracks to score against the likes of Bangladesh and Zimboks. There is only one game in the top 10-15 games that needs to be considered seriously and that was the game between India and Pakistan in Lahore. As I said above the pitches in Pakistan are absolute shambles because they want their public (whatever little number turns up to watch test cricket) to turn up and watch the likes of Afridi score runs. On top of that they don't have a team capable of taking 20 wickets in a test match so they carry on producing pitches that don't get results. : Pakistan three years ago actually humiliated us in the karachi test which happened to be a true pitch. Sehwag , Laxman and Dravid were clueless against Asif and Co . I don't buy that drugs had any thing to so with Asif's swing bowling. Also , like you describe the first two test match pitches were a disgrace wherein the batsmen kept on piling runs , but on a true karachi pitch they did win the match and the series. So , with Asif , Akhtar and Gul , they are still capable of taking 20 wickets provided Akhtar lasts more than a test innings. Link to comment
DomainK Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Character is a strange thing. Always changes. Link to comment
hassan_113 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 King... I do agree that Pakistan have produced some shockers. But when the pitches contain some grass- there have been some good tests...v India at Lahore and Pindi (2004) and Karachi (2006). I don't buy either that Pak have not had a bowling attack to take 20 wickets (until recently!) It's no surprise that Pakistan has historically generally played better away than at home in the likes of India, England, SL and NZ!! So what if there are more results? That is because batting sides take more risks and have less patience and are prepared to hit out more....back in the days that was not the case and pitches were less batsmen-friendly and teams were prepared to bat for draws more frequently. These days teams are chasing down huge targets in ODIs and tests!! Bowling attacks now are nowhere NEAR as good as they were. Link to comment
King Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 So what if there are more results? That is because batting sides take more risks and have less patience and are prepared to hit out more....back in the days that was not the case and pitches were less batsmen-friendly and teams were prepared to bat for draws more frequently. These days teams are chasing down huge targets in ODIs and tests!! Bowling attacks now are nowhere NEAR as good as they were. On one hand you say the pitches are getting flatter and on another you say there are results in test matches. If a team is being bowled out twice in a test match the pitch cannot be blamed for being placid. I would rather see a result out of a 5 day test match than a draw. I agree pitches are flatter for ODIs and that is the way they want it. I don't quite agree to that and would like to see an even playing field in ODIs but I don't reckon we are going to get that. Link to comment
King Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Pakistan three years ago actually humiliated us in the karachi test which happened to be a true pitch. Sehwag ' date=' Laxman and Dravid were clueless against Asif and Co . I don't buy that drugs had any thing to so with Asif's swing bowling. Also , like you describe the first two test match pitches were a disgrace wherein the batsmen kept on piling runs , but on a true karachi pitch they did win the match and the series. So , with Asif , Akhtar and Gul , they are still capable of taking 20 wickets provided Akhtar lasts more than a test innings.[/quote'] I don't know what world you are living in :winky: I'm not saying this because I don't like Pakistan or anything but they have won squat in the last couple of years. In the last 10 test matches Result Margin Toss Bat Opposition Ground Start DateAscending lost 7 wickets won 1st v South Africa Centurion 11 Jan 2007 Test # 1828 won 5 wickets lost 2nd v South Africa Port Elizabeth 19 Jan 2007 Test # 1829 lost 5 wickets lost 1st v South Africa Cape Town 26 Jan 2007 Test # 1830 lost 160 runs lost 2nd v South Africa Karachi 1 Oct 2007 Test # 1843 draw - lost 2nd v South Africa Lahore 8 Oct 2007 Test # 1844 lost 6 wickets won 1st v India Delhi 22 Nov 2007 Test # 1849 draw - lost 2nd v India Kolkata 30 Nov 2007 Test # 1850 draw - lost 2nd v India Bangalore 8 Dec 2007 Test # 1852 draw - lost 2nd v Sri Lanka Karachi 21 Feb 2009 Test # 1909 draw - won 2nd v Sri Lanka Lahore 1 Mar 2009 Test # 1912 Pakistan has won 2 test matches, lost 4 and drawn 5 test matches. They have lost more because they don't have the ability to pick up 20 wickets in a test match. Get over Asif and Akthar they hardly play a test match for Pakistan. Firstly I cannot understand how you can continue to say Asif is supposed to play for Pakistan when he has been banned often and even by IPL on drug charges. I honestly ask you to stop bringing up his name as he often has been found to be a cheat and is not even in Pakistan's cricket team right now. It isn't fair on rest of the bowlers that play with all the honesty without having to cheat. That leaves us with Akthar and Gul. Again how can you even consider someone like Akthar a threat? The last time he played (in India) he was accused yet again by is own players for not having enough committment. I do agree Pakistan pick on him every time they lose a test match as they need a scapegoat and Shoaib presents himself everytime as a scapegoat but no way can you reckon he is a match winner anymore. Gul's definitely a decent player no doubt about it. Again this man is hardly available for selection due to injuries. He has played 18 test matches since his debut about 6 years ago. It's not like he is a pace sensation such as Waqar or Wasim, Gul averages 32 and strikes at 54 balls every wicket. Gul can be a decent bowling option but no way can you class him as a strike bowler that will run through opponents. Danish Kaneria is their prime spinning option and no chance can you classify him as a top bowler. I cannot see how you can say Pakistan is capable of picking 20 wickets in a test match consistently. You give one or two instances where they have picked up 20 wickets but those are like a mirage in a desert. You can't call that consistency. No wonder Pakistan doesn't win enough anymore and their bowlers suck big time. They have to heavily rely on their batting (which is not too bad at all) to keep them going. Link to comment
kumble_rocks Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 ^ I will differ to your superior knowledge here.My point is Asif, Akhtar and Gul are more than capable of taking 20 wickets on a seaming track. But agree that they have done zilch the last two years . But even you will have to agree that they beat us in 2005-2006 series on a seaming track. So they are capable .... Link to comment
King Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 ^ I will differ to your superior knowledge here.My point is Asif' date=' Akhtar and Gul are more than capable of taking 20 wickets on a seaming track. But agree that they have done zilch the last two years . But even you will have to agree that they beat us in 2005-2006 series on a seaming track. So they are capable ....[/quote'] OK let me rephrase your words, "Pakistan were capable once or twice about 3-4 years ago of picking up 20 wickets in a test match" :winky: Link to comment
kumble_rocks Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 OK let me rephrase your words' date=' "Pakistan were capable once or twice about 3-4 years ago of picking up 20 wickets in a test match" :winky:[/quote'] :--D I meant defer not differ ! Link to comment
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