There’s been a lot to consider after ten days of Test action between Australia and India.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have produced innings that deserve to be remembered. The Australian team have batted with the sort of grit and determination that has been sadly lacking in recent series.
The Australian bowlers have worked brilliantly as a unit, with all applying serious pressure to the world’s top-ranked Test team. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have shown India has at least two world-class quicks, with the rest providing able support.
Tim Paine has done an outstanding job as keeper and Test captain, leading his team with far more certainty and purpose than Kohli did for India.
Above all, I have watched real old-fashioned Test cricket that has gone the distance and has been genuinely exciting. Why? I put it down to the pitches, and this is where I think administrators need to take note.
The Perth pitch has been described as a minefield, horrendous and so on but, there have been five scores of 50 or more, including Kohli’s brilliant ton. The match featured more than 350 overs, which suggests batsmen can make runs but bowlers can also be influential if they really put in.
In other words, the Perth match was a genuine contest between bat and ball.
The Adelaide game was similar in that both sides struggled at times against some quality bowling. The difference was Pujara’s two innings, even though Australia was still a chance to win late on Day 5.
Again, the theme was a genuine contest between bat and ball. It produced exciting cricket which in large part was thanks to the pitch.
Cricket Australia needs to get bums into seats this summer, a crucial task following the events in South Africa. The best way to do that is to put on enthralling spectacles in which Australia is competitive and the games are close.
The Tests in Adelaide and Perth have clearly shown that if pitches allow games to go five days, the bean counters at Cricket Australia can be happy and supporters of both teams will be treated to plenty of action.
It’s down to Cricket Australia and the curators now. I hope they get it right in Melbourne and Sydney.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
We got the ashes, but the india tests are probably more tense. Has the drama factor.
Leonard Colquhoun
Roar Rookie
Wonder what the Day I crowds might've been had our cricket HQ worked out that most potential spectators on a Friday would be, like w-o-r-k-i-n-g? Then wasn't there some farcical nonsense where the local suits decided that ordinary everyday spectators would not be allowed to sit in the shade?
Extra Short Leg
Roar Rookie
If the rumours are true about CA asking for pitches around the country to exhibit different characteristics then that's a good thing. The curators didn't quite get it right in Adelaide and Perth but it was still nail biting cricket.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Nice article, Paul. I agree that Adelaide and Perth have provided terrific test match cricket. Gripping and tantalising throughout!
El Loco
Roar Rookie
The proposal with four day tests is to play longer days, my understanding is that only two hours are lost overall. On that basis, all other things being equal, the first test would have been even more thrilling with all results possible and Australia losing in the final hour. The second test result wouldn't have been affected either.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
It certainly produced a better game than those seen on the very bland pitches produced for too many tests in Australia in recent years and I'd certainly rather watch a game played on that pitch than a day/night lottery or a game on, for example, last year's Melbourne pitch. Whether that makes this a good pitch is another matter. There were on my count 5 wickets from balls that wildly misbehaved off the pitch, and the scoring rate overall was about 2.7 - doesn't scream good to me.
AREH
Roar Guru
Well can you imagine if four day tests were a reality? These last two matches both ending in underwhelming draws, with still plenty to offer. I can't stand the talk of tests over four days, even minnow nations. The pleasing this is this conversation seems to have stemmed greatly of recent.
Richard POWELL
Roar Rookie
Yes, except that the crowd was abysmal. Something is needed to engage the crowd with the players like BBL does. More microphones around the ground so the crowd can enjoy and join in the banter?
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair call Wayne, but the curators these days have access to some pretty sophisticated weather forecasting which they can factor into their pitch preparations.
Wayne
Roar Guru
What would the pitch have done if there was a heat wave through (whole test played 38c Plus). Perth (and Adelaide) are known for parking the bus in hot spells, a pitch like Perth would of been unplayable if it cooked under 40+ for a week. But I am more than happy to see Bat v Ball. Rather than Bat v Bat
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Fantastic pitch for test cricket
Paul
Roar Guru
Yet Kohli made a brilliant hundred and even tail-enders scored runs. This pitch offered opportunities for both batsman &bowlers. I agree some of the bounce was a bit too variable but I saw a great contest which was down to guys really trying their best to out play the opposition on a competitive pitch.
FrozenNorth
Guest
I never said it was a road and I never said it didn't have pace and movement. What it did also have was massively variable bounce, cracks, divots etc which turns it into a quagmire as the batsmen can't get the ball off the square.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
There was pace, there was bounce, there was movement...at all times. This was no road. Did you just watch the Perth test or a recording of something else?
FrozenNorth
Guest
I can't cop the pitch and good words it's getting, it was rubbish. I don't want a road, i want pace, bounce and movement with a little breaking up on the 4th and 5th days for the spinners. This pitch had variable bounce and divots and cracks, really unpredictable and it resulted in terribly slow run rates as both teams valiantly tried to play to the pitch and not get out to aggressive strokes. There's a novelty in it for now but a few tests in a row where sessions go by and you don't see a boundary will wear thin quickly.