Preparing a spin track when playing against a team from the sub-continent can be a fatal mistake.
But that is not the case with the famous Sydney Cricket Ground (which was boasted as the most spin-friendly pitch in Australia) over the last few years.
The last time a sub-continent team won at the SCG was 24 years ago when Pakistan’s only win came in Sydney in 1995, and it was the leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed’s 9-for that won the match for Pakistan.
Since then, there have been nine contests between the Asian teams and Australia in the SCG, with the hosts winning it seven times out of nine. The other two Tests ended in a draw.
Furthermore, India’s only win at the Sydney Cricket Ground came in 1978. India played three spinners in that match – Bishan Bedi, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar and Erapalli Prasanna and the trio picked 16 Australian wickets to register the win.
So, it had been a spinner’s paradise. But is it now?
The truth is, the pitch in years has slowly turned into a batter’s wonderland instead of a spin-friendly one. It is apparent with the bowling average of spin bowlers in this track slowly deteriorating over the years.
For instance, here is a statistical report on the average of bowling averages of the top five wicket taking spin-bowlers at the Sydney Cricket Ground:
Until 1980s = 21.47
1981 – 1999 = 23.58
2000 – 2009 = 30.62
Since 2011 = 38.64
Two of the current day bests, Nathan Lyon and Ravi Ashwin, average 48.13 and 80.80 respectively at the SCG since 2011.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
The number of wickets to spin bowlers at the SCG has also gone down significantly, stating the same sad news for spinners in this track.
In the last ten years, the spinners at the SCG have picked around 50 wickets with an average rising above 50.
On the other hand, the SCG has stayed beneficial to its batsmen. The SCG has seen 23 Test centuries in the last ten years alone, including the six scored by the visiting batsmen.
Above all, the match involving India and Australia in 2004 has turned in to the fifth highest match aggregate in Test cricket ever. There were 1747 runs scored in that drawn match.
Indeed, the quality of spinners has varied at times. Still the average rising above 50 for the spinners who have done brilliantly around the globe is the raising concern.
But, according to Tom Parker, the ex-head curator of the SCG, who bid his farewell last year, the SCG has its traditional spinning nature in it. But the above stats tell a different story.
Now, the SCG is once again in focus with Australia facing India, an opponent with a rich spin culture, for the 12th time in this venue.
The Indian team already has a 2-1 lead in the series and will try to finish on a high note.
On the other hand, the hosting captain who is already concerned with the previous pitches in this series has stated his concern that the dry Sydney pitch might work in favour of the tourists yet again.
A curious five days are ahead.
Alicesprings
Guest
Think its too early to tell. That said the MCG has had a drop in pitch since the 90's and no one really had a problem with it until last years rubbish pitch. People also forget that the MCG was always a flat wicket - nothing much has changed. Time will tell with Adelaide if it can retain its characteristics. Then theres Perth which is at a new stadium altogether!
Onside
Guest
Perhaps instead of me having a shot at the AFL , the more relevant question should have been, what effect have drop in pitches had on Australian cricket.?
Alicesprings
Guest
Agree. If it wasn't for Australia Football the various stadia around the country would be a shadow of themselves. For the record I'm not that bothered by drop in pitches, the recent hysteria in re to them is simply a media beat up. Seems to happen when we loose test matches.
buviwrites
Roar Rookie
Think is the left handed spinners have done better her recently than the rightys. Kukdeep's wrongurns might come handy too.
Paul D
Roar Guru
AFL didn't do any damage to cricket. Cricket shot itself in the foot through greed and offering a poor product for spectators. AFL has paid the bills to upgrade every stadium in this country in the last few decades. When Cricket can pay its own way, then it can make demands about playing surfaces. Until then, you get what you're given. Including a drop-in at the Gabba, and not before time either
Alicesprings
Guest
Give it another 10 years and the SCG and Gabba will have drop in pitches. Will happen first with the GABBA and will coincide with the money they about to spend on the precinct. The reality of multipurpose stadiums these days.
Niranjan Deodhar
Roar Pro
And in spite of that team India have gone with two spinners in Jadeja & K Yadav. Just as they misread the pitch at Perth in the second Test, I guess they have missed the trick here too. It would have been a rather safe option to replace an injured pacer with another pacer in U Yadav, even though the later has been found struggling with the ball off-late. And with no other players offering any option of part-time medium pace bowling, selection of extra spinner can disrupt the balance of Indian bowling attack which has been the cornerstone of India's recent triumphs, thereby putting an additional workload on the shoulders of Bumrah & Shami.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The Sydney pitch has always been known to turn. Lyon's poor performances there are telling. Firstly, it doesn't spin much on days one and two, so bowling first won't flatter an off-spinners figures. However, Lyon has little success later in SCG tests with some three wicket hauls being his best innings return in Sydney. Perhaps, Lyon's challenge in Sydney is to direct the ball far enough outside off stump as the pitch starts turning more. Sometimes Our GOAT is still found out by bowling too straight on turning pitches.
Onside
Guest
Your analysis is highly relevant, as Sydney does not use drop in pitches. Sydney refuses to be seduced by Australian Football League dollars . I often wonder just how much damage AFL ,(and subsequent installation of drop in pitches around this country ) has done to cricket in Australia . Buvi, our spinners need to encompass the historic meaning of your name. B,is for bounce, your ability to renew. U,is for upstanding, your inner-self. V,is for verve! your enthusiasm! and I, for intellect, your high capacity for knowledge.