Retired paceman Ryan Harris has slammed the current state of Australian pitches, saying the decks have become “ridiculously flat” and may have played a part in Mitchell Johnson’s decision to retire.
And former Test captain Mark Taylor has urged groundsmen around the country to leave more grass on the wickets to even up the contest between bat and ball.
Last summer, captain Steve Smith was left stunned by the slowness of the Australian pitches in the four-Test series against India.
And it seems the situation has just gotten worse, with flat decks offered up for both Brisbane and Perth so far this summer.
Australia racked up scores of 9(dec)-559 and 7(dec)-385 in the second Test against NZ at the WACA, while the Kiwis scored 624 in their first innings.
Johnson announced his retirement on the morning of the fifth day after returning figures of 1-157 in the first innings.
Australia opener David Warner, Test great Justin Langer, and NZ paceman Doug Bracewell have been among the critics of the recent Gabba and WACA decks, and Harris echoed their sentiments.
“I think the wickets are ridiculously flat,” Harris told ABC radio.
“Particularly when you’re playing a home series. Our pitches are really disappointing at the moment to be honest.
“It’d be nice to play in conditions that we’re used to a bit more – a bit more pace and bounce.”
When asked on SEN whether he thinks the flat pitches convinced Johnson to retire now rather than see out the summer, Harris replied: “I think it definitely would have played a part.
“At the end of the third day when Australia were still bowling and NZ were only two down for a lot (of runs), that would have scared me off too.”
Australian team performance boss Pat Howard claimed there was no directive from his organisation to flatten the pitches.
Taylor said something needed to change.
“(Test cricket) needs exciting games, good battles between bat and ball and results,” Taylor said.
“You don’t need attritional games of cricket that require declarations for results.
“The balance is too skewed towards the bat in Australia at the moment.
“We have to allow groundsman to leave a bit of a grass on it, and that might mean a side is bowled out for 150 on day one.
“Then we (have to make sure we) don’t jump down their backs for it, we have to give them a little bit more freedom to produce a pitch that is fair between bat and ball.”
Australia’s bowling coach Craig McDermott was frustrated that one of his team’s greatest strengths – their pace bowling department – had been rendered largely ineffective by the flat decks.
Don Freo
Guest
I wonder why we have not yet heard from Matt Page. What are our sports journalists doing? Instead we get debates about applauding and hand shaking. A 290 at the WACA is as impressive as a rearguard 35 at Trent Bridge.
Martyn50
Guest
The difference with Adelaide this time is that with half the play under lights and not so much in the sun, the atmoshere will play it's part.ie evening moisture. Unless its a stinking hot day in Adelaide.
my2cents
Guest
So true. Very few people seem to realise that in while in limited overs cricket Batting =Attack and Bowling = Defense. In test Cricket the inverse is true. Batting = Defense and Bowling = Attack. So CA in a complete and total miss understanding of test cricket are wrecking the game by giving teams a defensive advantage that is almost impossible to break. It will be interesting to see how the Adelaide pitch responds to the Day night test. I'd love to see a soft Indian Style Dustbowl that starts to turn and keep low from day 3. (Adelaide normally reaches this condition on Day 5)
Rellum
Roar Guru
Take anything Pat Howard says with a grain of salt. Apart from CA giving out instructions on Pitches I also think that the BBL has taken hold of CA's thinking so that boundaries equate with excitement. More boundaries equals more excitement. I am sure if every ball was a four or a six they would think that was perfect. But cricket like all sports has a narrative and if you take away the quite periods to let the tension build and to always have one side winning that narrative becomes boring and in the end falls apart.
AlanKC
Guest
"Australian team performance boss Pat Howard claimed there was no directive from his organisation to flatten the pitches" - sounds a lot like "the coach has the full support of the board"that we hear uttered just before any number of Rugby League coaches get punted.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
That seems like an outrageous conspiracy theory but I recall last summer (I think!) when a guest on ABC Grandstand stated that a week or so before each test someone from Channel 9 rocks up and calls the shots on how the final preparation of the pitch is carried out. The curator has bugger all say in it (but he does cop the blame!) And as you say Johnny, the TV want five days of batting with plenty of boundaries.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
This is the Australian cricket board pressuring curators to squeeze 5 days of televised coverage out. Killing the game !