‘Our groundsmen do it deliberately, theirs just get it wrong’ – Sunil Gavaskar on pitch debate double standards

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has slammed SENA countries’ media for their double standards over pitches. India won the second Test match against South Africa by seven wickets but the Test match was over in 642 balls, making it the shortest-ever Test in the history of the game.

The Newlands pitch was a minefield, producing unpredictable bounce for the fast bowlers. So much so that 23 wickets tumbled on the very first day of the Test match despite being sunny conditions.

Former South African captain Shaun Pollock admitted that the Cape Town curator got it wrong and Gavaskar lashed out at the double standards of rating a pitch.

“These kind of excuses that the curator got it wrong is typical of the SENA countries,” Gavaskar wrote for Mid-Day. “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. It’s like before the third country umpires came in, where decisions by their umpires were excused as ‘human error’ while our umpires were cheats and ‘Delhi Butchers’ and all such derogatory headlines.”

Gavaskar further lashed out at the English media for their continuous whinging over Indian pitches.

“In about three weeks time another Test series starts with a country that has the biggest whinging and moaning media in sport. Anything that doesn’t suit their team will be criticised and allegations will fly thick and fast.”

Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma also said he is fine to play on such pitches like the Newlands if the world keeps their mouth shut on Indian pitches if the ball starts to turn on the opening day.

Gavaskar also agreed with Rohit’s comments after the Cape Town Test: “The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was spot on when he said after the quick finish in the second Test that he doesn’t mind playing on pitches like the one dished out there as it’s a challenge to play on surfaces different from home.”

The first Test match between India and England will played in Hyderabad from 25th January.