Unsurprisingly, former England captain Michael Vaughan has been heavily critical of the pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test this week in Melbourne. He thinks it has “gone too far” and made the game an “unbalanced” competition between bat and ball. The ex-England captain is concerned that what’s happening today is taking ‘the spirit out of Test cricket’.
As Australian skipper Steve Smith put it, the pitch was “pretty furry, pretty green.” This has resulted in significant backlash from players and commentators alike after a confusing first day of competition. Twenty wickets fell on that day in total. Australia has been bundled out for 152 runs, while England was dismissed for a meager 110. Vaughan made it clear that this sort of surface just isn’t appropriate for the type of game we all know and love.
According to Vaughan, “isn’t Test cricket on this type of pitch.” He elaborated on his concerns, stating, “We are seeing Test matches like this where the pitch does a little – whether it’s spin or seam – and batters can’t cope with the movement.” He further remarked that “the pitch has done plenty,” noting that “there’s been plenty of movement out there.” Vaughan stressed the importance of a fair balance between bat and ball, asserting, “I thought that was unfair for the batters.”
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook discussed the pitch’s impact on the match. He claimed it was “overwhelmingly tilted in favour of the bowlers.” He highlighted in particular that the bowlers had it too easy to take wickets. This creates serious doubt about the honesty of the contest. Cook agreed with Vaughan’s view on the unjust nature of the pitch conditions. As he elaborated, “If you put it where it needs to be, then it’s going to nip in either direction. In fact, I believe that it’s something of an unjust matchup.
The state of the turf in New Jersey has been a major bone of contention between specialists. Former England seamer Glenn McGrath commented, “That pitch has too much life in it for Test cricket,” aligning with Vaughan’s critique. The pitch grass was 10mm when it should have been 7mm. This oversight led to serious wilting from the grass, leading to heavy backlash from players and analysts alike, who felt the overgrown grass caused frustratingly unpredictable playing conditions.
At the time, the groundsman was worried by the pitch as it went into day three, four and five of that Test. This has reignited the long-standing contentious argument over Test match pitch preparation. If that’s the case, shouldn’t these pitches be more conducive to batting?
The last Ashes Test in Melbourne in December 2021 concluded somewhat unexpectedly after three days. This sudden ending raised questions about the nature of pitch preparation and cricket’s infamous but beautiful war over the balance between bat and ball. More than a year on, debate over the Test’s playing conditions continues. Developing countries, active players and respected commentators are all calling for a more equitable competitive landscape that better respects the spirit of Test cricket.
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