Not even one session had passed in the second Test between India and England before my Twitter feed had been partially filled with English former cricketers complaining about the state of the pitch at Chepauk Stadium.
As the Hindustan Times reported in December 2020, the itinerary was set with the first two Tests to be played in Chennai before the final two Tests would be played in Ahmedabad.
With the amount of technology available in today’s world, it’s almost common sense to know that Ahmedabad and Chennai are two of the slowest wickets in India. Add to the fact that back-to-back Tests would be played in Chennai and it was almost certain that the second Test would be a rank turner in Chennai, regardless of the result of the first Test.
So, why were these former players whining on social media about a Chennai wicket that was expected to turn from ball one? There were no complaints about the pitch when England and Ireland were both bowled for less than 100 at Lord’s in the lone Test mid-2019.
Why do subcontinental pitches get all the attention? (Photo by Sean Dempsey – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
Or the other two times England were bowled out for less than 100 in 2019 (77 at Bridgetown and 67 at Headingley).
Rather, it was the fault of the batsmen for not playing well on seaming pitches – their technique was at fault. So why the double standards when English batsmen techniques are left exposed on turning tracks if Joe Root fails to score?
The traditionalist English way seems to me as if pitches should aid seamers for the majority of three days before spinners can even come into the question of being an attacking threat.
And when that view is challenged, out come those who aren’t used to change, threatening to boycott any form of change from the traditionalist view of Test cricket in England.
This mentality doesn’t come from just former English players – it’s also seeped into the minds of those involved in the ECB.
In November 2019, Somerset were docked 24 points over the next few next County seasons.
The reason? For creating a pitch similar to the one we saw in Chennai this week in their quest for a County title against Essex in 2019.
Taunton is known as a rank turner in County cricket. It’s where Dom Bess and Jack Leach have played the majority of their first-class cricket before graduating to the higher honour that is Test cricket.
Telling them and other Somerset cricketers that the pitches they have grown up on and then wondering why England struggle on turners is the biggest form of hypocrisy.
In England’s County cricket system, there are 18 teams.
Out of those 18 teams, Surrey (The Oval), Somerset (Taunton) and Lancashire’s (Old Trafford) home grounds are known to be spin-friendly for their first-class games.
Thus, it’s no surprise that in England’s squad for the final two Tests the quartet of spinners (Leach and Bess from Somerset, Amar Singh Virdi from Surrey and Matt Parkinson from Lancashire) are all from first-class teams where the pitches aid spinners.
Even the two players who looked the most comfortable against India’s spinners during the second Test, in Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes, have played the majority of their FC cricket for Surrey, knowing how to play on the front and back foot to the spinners.
Ultimately, England still needs a cultural shift on how to treat spinners in their own backyard.
Preparing green tops for home Tests is fine, but don’t fine and deduct points from sides such as Somerset for producing turners in their home FC games.
England won’t find their next Graeme Swann overnight or find ten outstanding players of spin in a month.
It’ll take time, but the process has to start somehow. Complaining about pitches which exposes players’ deficiencies against quality bowling in Test cricket shows that players need to work on their technique more, instead of former players whining and whinging for no reason.
In my 13 years of following international cricket, I’ve seen absolute roads, rank turners, green tops and have enjoyed many international cricket games on those wickets.
To date, the only pitch which I have completely disliked was when India and Sri Lanka faced off in an ODI in 2009 at Delhi, where the inconsistent bounce was so bad Sri Lankan batsmen were facing injuries.
Bar that, all I’ve got to say to the players is this: improve your technique on different surfaces for international cricket or don’t play international cricket at all.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yep, that looks like the WACA back in the day alright. This was the same match in which Lillee tried using his aluminium bat, although that was the first innings. Lillee c.Willey b. Dilley 19 was in the 2nd innings – just googled the scorecard as well.
Paul
Roar Guru
pretty sure you're right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh4iF_Si_2E
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I think that was in Perth 1979-80 wasn't it?
Paul
Roar Guru
hard to forget Lillee, caught Willey bowled Dilley! And that's not silly!! :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
And opposed by Lillee .... now I'm being silly.
Paul
Roar Guru
such a shame Willey & Dilley aren't playing now
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I reckon England's best team consists of stokes, foakes, woakes and 8 other blokes.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Well said, Paul. Couldn't agree with you more!
Hades
Roar Rookie
I reckon more than the pitch, it was the mindset of English batters that led to their eventual capitulation. Though I agree serving rank turners where whoever bats first, wins should not happen in international matches. Skill and not luck (toss) should dicatate who wins the game.
nics
Roar Rookie
I find that interesting myself given I suspect the situation would have been very different if the results were reversed (India wins the first test and England wins the second). India lost the first test due to a Root 200+ score putting on scoreboard pressure. India win the second due to a Rohit 150+ score putting on scoreboard pressure. Did the pitch really play a big role or the toss plus good first innings batting?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree but this series, the win has gone with the toss and I can't see that changing though I may be wrong with the D/N test. Interesting that the curator from the first test was put on leave but not the curator for the second test. India won?
Paul
Roar Guru
Arnab, I think it's important to identify where all the whinging is coming from and none seems to be coming from the English camp. Yes a bunch of ex-players have weighed in, but the guys who matter the most are not these armchair experts but the guys expected to strap on the pads and face quality spinners on these surfaces. In a Test where 40 wickets fell, 6 of these were taken by quicks. Two centuries and three scores of 50 of more were made. One bloke even managed to score 43 off 18 deliveries with only one single, so this was a "poor" pitch? Finally, go back and have a look at the results of the first two Tests in Australia. The first in Adelaide was done & dusted in 3 days and the Boxing Day Test barely made it to day 4. There were fewer hundreds scored in those two games and only one more score of 50, from 8 innings, yet neither pitch was hammered the way this Chennai pitch was. I think those who want to have a whinge, need to either suck it up or get over it. It's becoming increasingly hard to think they have anything worthwhile to say.
Buk
Roar Rookie
Good article. Every country normally has different climate conditions and/or strengths. One of the beauties of cricket is variation in weather and conditions, and the tactic of how many spinners/pace bowlers to pick, & which batsman re likely to do best in the conditions.
Buk
Roar Rookie
La Grandeur (impressive name :) ) The fact that India is the only team in recent times to go to Australia and win a series, & that with a team that was struck with a number of defections to first choice players, was a massive achievement. Something neither England nor New Zealand (the other contenders for the test final) have achieved in recent times. And the Indian pace attack was a major contributor. You are quite right, in saying in England the ball swings in overcast conditions on surfaces which have moisture So teams going England for the test final need to prepare for that, just as teams going to the subcontinent should prepare for world class spin bowling, & just the same as anyone going to Australia should prepare for Australian conditions. The only issue being, as mentioned in the article above, unpredictable/uneven bounce should be avoided as much as possible; however not sure how much a groundsman can control the weather and various soil factors. Some of it is surely hope/guesswork.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
It wasn't a great pitch but it wasn't impossible to bat on. England just looked clueless. And as for your back to rank turners, India aren't going to that path. It's just that Chennai is almost impossible to produce a seam friendly wicket. Always was and and always will be a spinners wicket. Ahmedabad will be the same if the same pitches are used from the syed Mushtaq ali trophy knockout games (even if that was a t20 tournament)
Gonzo99
Roar Rookie
That link says that Somerset were fined for producing a pitch that was rated "poor" due to "excessive unevenness of bounce". It's not quite the same as saying that they were fined for producing a turner. Somerset themselves admitted that the pitch was poor, apparently. Seems that the ECB are happy if a pitch turns, but not if the bounce is "excessively" uneven.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
It was the first time any cricket was played at Chepauk in ages. Pitches weren't bound to be outstanding. Since Ahmedabad hosted the syed mushtaq ali knockouts the pitches will be a lot better. Still expect both Tests to be slow wickets
Tanmoy K.
Guest
Actually problem with England is except Joe Root nobody can counter spinners very well, hence when Root will succeed England will do better or vice versa. Frankly speaking, none of the Chennai pitches were good for Test cricket, but the players have to be smart enough to tackle adverse conditions to be successful.
mkr
Guest
you mentioned doing well in all kinds of condition but you forgot turning pitch is too a kind of different condition and players need to show their competence here to prove they are world class..you just need to come out of colonial shell ..we have already showed we play well on bouncy fast seam tracks ,let others show that they can handle real spin ..just think out of the box ..
Ian
Roar Rookie
Great post...could not agree more.