Sunil Gavaskar: ‘Anything that doesn’t suit their team…’: Sunil Gavaskar criticizes double standards in pitch criticism | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Legendary former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has taken a dig at the double standards in pitch criticism, particularly targeting countries in the ‘SENA’ (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) region.
Gavaskar’s comments come in the aftermath of the second Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town, which concluded within five sessions, making it the shortest Test match in history.
The pitch at Newlands faced scrutiny as South Africa collapsed for just 55 in the first innings, followed by India losing their last six wickets without adding any runs to their total. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince criticized the pitch conditions in press conferences, with Rohit highlighting the perceived double standards in pitch criticism between SENA countries and subcontinent decks.
In his column for Mid-day, Gavaskar expressed his views on the excuses made for pitches like the one in Cape Town. He wrote, “These kind of excuses that the curator got it wrong is typical of the SENA countries.”
Gavaskar referenced India’s Test series against Australia last year, where criticism was directed at Indian curators for preparing dry pitches. He pointed out the disparity in how such situations are portrayed, stating, “When our curators make a dry pitch then it’s ‘chicanery,’ as a former Australian skipper said last year after the Aussies had been walloped in the first two Test matches. So our groundsmen do it deliberately, but their groundsmen just get it wrong.”
Gavaskar also turned his attention to England’s upcoming tour of India, predicting a barrage of criticism from the English media. He launched a scathing attack, stating, “In about three weeks’ time, another Test series starts with a country that has the biggest whingeing and moaning media in sport. Anything that doesn’t suit their team will be criticized, and allegations will fly thick and fast.”
The first Test between India and England is scheduled to take place from January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Gavaskar’s comments come in the aftermath of the second Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town, which concluded within five sessions, making it the shortest Test match in history.
The pitch at Newlands faced scrutiny as South Africa collapsed for just 55 in the first innings, followed by India losing their last six wickets without adding any runs to their total. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince criticized the pitch conditions in press conferences, with Rohit highlighting the perceived double standards in pitch criticism between SENA countries and subcontinent decks.
In his column for Mid-day, Gavaskar expressed his views on the excuses made for pitches like the one in Cape Town. He wrote, “These kind of excuses that the curator got it wrong is typical of the SENA countries.”
Gavaskar referenced India’s Test series against Australia last year, where criticism was directed at Indian curators for preparing dry pitches. He pointed out the disparity in how such situations are portrayed, stating, “When our curators make a dry pitch then it’s ‘chicanery,’ as a former Australian skipper said last year after the Aussies had been walloped in the first two Test matches. So our groundsmen do it deliberately, but their groundsmen just get it wrong.”
Gavaskar also turned his attention to England’s upcoming tour of India, predicting a barrage of criticism from the English media. He launched a scathing attack, stating, “In about three weeks’ time, another Test series starts with a country that has the biggest whingeing and moaning media in sport. Anything that doesn’t suit their team will be criticized, and allegations will fly thick and fast.”
The first Test between India and England is scheduled to take place from January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
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