Perth is the Mohali of Australia, only faster and greener

Sorry to hurt your feelings, Mitcher. I promise I did not mean you. The sudden wealth of India which makes them disobey ICC rulings make the cricket world, in general, jealous and angry. Hope my apology is accepted.

That's an embarrassing response. What jealously am I showing? All I am saying is it's an absolute lie that India is the only country that cops criticism over pitches. Your comment is bizarre and completely out of character from what I've seen from you in the past.

Mitcher, Jealousy for the sudden wealth of Indian cricket?

Thanks for the reply Kersi. 'So why only criticise India' This is exactly what I'm saying doesn't happen despite being repeated ad nauseum on those horrifying Cricinfo forums. The criticism is not only aimed at India. Maybe in the past but no longer. I'd love to have this apparent victim mentality explained to me.

Hi Mitcher, I agree that the Indian Cricket Board is ruling the cricket world because of its money. I have criticised ICC to allow India exemption from DRS. I also agree that India prepares pitches to help their spinners. But so do other countries to help their bowlers -- quick / seamers. So why only criticise India? Since the last few days I have suggested that the pitches should be prepared by neutral groundsmen. The pitches should help both batsmen and bowlers, seam, spin or pace. But I have been criticised for this suggestion. Is there any point in being balanced?

Hi Kersi, Firstly, I genuinely love your contributions. Almost always measured and considered. Surely tho you're not caught up in this Cricinfo fuelled rubbish. I can completely understand that back in the day Indian cricket, and particularly pitches, were unfairly and outrageously maligned. But the concept in this day and age that India is the poor downrrodden soul of world cricket is comical. You cannot be at once lord masters, and, at the same time, the down caste (yes, that's on purpose). Fact is, both sides of the debate slam each type of pitch. It's rubbish. It's sad. The main issue is the inability of the players to adapt rather than s pitch issue. But PLEASE (sorry to yell). But PLEASE, don't tell me anyone is more hard done by than the next. Especially when India now control the game. Poor things.

Comparing an England 1998 side to the current South Africans is a bit dubious, Kersi, late 1990s England sides were quite weak and lost series to Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home while South Africa are at the top with good reason and have won a series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and drawn with Pakistan in the UAE, both on spin friendly tracks.

Bryan, Not sure I get that Oz groundsmen have been doctoring for decades - surely the soil dictates the core wicket properties and you go from there? That said, I agree with the rest of your post. The issue isn't different pitches -that's the beauty of test cricket - it's that groundsmen might change a wicket as dictated by shaving or watering or not.This is unacceptable doctoring of wickets. If Mohali is always a dustbowl then that's fine. If it has grass for most first class matches and is noticeably different when playing touring sides then that's cheating. Likewise were the WACA a dead track for first class games and then specifically juiced up for a test. Or English green tops shorn of all grass for Swann. If a system is to be implemented then it should ensure integrity. This wicket looks like it has always looked. Well done. Good luck in the test. This wicket has been doctored. Bad boys. Fines, run penalties, slap on the wrist.

England has been pretty universally criticized for the last 2 ashes for their pitches. Australia started doctoring their pitches so long ago, that it isn't doctoring anymore, but character. I hope the pitches keep their character in the days of drop in pitches... Gabba's Green monster which calms down for the middle of the test and then crumbles a bit for the spinners. WACA pace and bounce.... With long cracks along the pitch opening up as the test goes on. Although it has slowed down the last few years. Adelaide's road which spins finally on the last day. SCG which is slower and lower than the rest and pretty good for spinners. The problem I have with India and England doctoring their pitches is that they are not even subtle about it. Their pitches do not have character built up for years... they change every year depending on who is turning up. Last 2 Ashes in England have been classic for that. Dusty crap when Swann was around, and Green monsters for Broad. India does the same... they lose a game, and suddenly all the pitches afterwards becomes dusty enough you sneeze just walking by. If India and England pitches do have character, but they never stick to it in the last 10 years. It all depends on who is turning up on what they give out. Let the pitches play to their character, not be about who is turning up.

I have no problems with "doctoring" of the pitches. All of them are doctored anyway. A test should be a test for the visiting batsman and bowlers. Batsmen and bowlers have to learn to play in all conditions - home and away. This Australian side will have to prove itself away from home to be great. This is a young exciting side but are not great. In time who knows. Challenges in sub-continent and seaming pitches of NZ and UK await. Starc and Hazelwood have makings of great bowlers but have to become more consistent. Lyon is no Warne. Too compete in the sub-continent two world class spinner at least are needed. India should not stop preparing turners at home. There is no divine right for the fast bowlers to pick up wickets. Let them be stock bowlers for a change. Incidentally India does not seem as good on turning wickets these days either.

Hi Roarers, The reason I suggested this standard pitches idea is because I am sick of experts criticising India for preparing dusty pitches and not giving their batsmen and bowlers a small pat on the back. On the other hand England and Australia are not criticised for doctoring their pitches. Howzat?

Dear Roarers,

Jameswm I do.

So you're saying the Aussie bowlers will ignore what all local cricket followers know about bowling at the WACA?

+1

No to neutral pitches! It should be hard to win games overseas - it's what separates the great teams (West Indies in the 80's, Australia in the 2000's) from the merely good.

I reckon NZ will bowl controlled, full length medium to fast, potentially frustrating our batsmen, while our bowlers will be less controlled and too fixated on extracting pace and bounce playing into the hands of BMC who will score well at the WACA and could be the match winner. I hope I am proved wrong, but my gut tells me this test will bring us right back down to earth. Australia beware.

Hi Kersi, Australia's recent record in Perth is nowhere near as compelling as for the Gabba. But no question, if Starc and Johnson get it right there are some uncomfortable times ahead for the NZ batsmen. (Did you like how I wrote 'batsmen' and not 'batters'? Batter is something that goes on fried fish)

My apologies Kersi, i really cringe reading something like this, particularly from one like you hailing from my vintage. I say this for part of the charm of test cricket is the diversity of challenge. If you introduce 'neutral ICC-accredited groundsmen ' all that will happen is you will have standardised pitches every where making the game lose much of its appeal. An appeal found in overseas players/teams playing on foreign decks and prevailing as well as being captivated by the diversity of challenge and how real test players adapt. I am deeply saddened how most of Australia's pitches have lost much of their traditional identity- if it extends to pitches worldwide it will be the death kneel for test cricket for the traditional fans :(

The bounce and pace of the WACA creates some of the most exciting to watch Test cricket there is (dustbowls less so). The best solution is to export the WACA pitch to all countries and then other teams will be better prepared for its idiosyncrasies and there will be more exciting Test cricket to be had all round.