Root refuses to blame pitch after England crushed inside two days
Joe Root refused to condemn the pitch after accepting his England side were outplayed by India in a humbling two-day third Test defeat in Ahmedabad.
However, Root suggested the International Cricket Council may take their own view of another rampant turner.
Seventeen wickets fell inside the first two sessions at the new Narendra Modi Stadium, wrapping up India's first innings and England's second at warp speed to leave the hosts chasing just 49 for the win.
They promptly wrapped up victory by 10 wickets to ensure three full days went unused for just the seventh time in the last 75 years of Test history.
With just 140.2 overs sent down, it was the shortest match since 1935 in terms of balls bowled, and only amplified the debate which raged over the fitness of the previous surface - a loose dustbowl in Chennai.
As captain, Root made a point to assume responsibility for his side's shortcomings and made it clear that being bowled out for 112 on day one, then 81 in their second attempt, was not good enough.
But it was hard to escape a feeling of exasperation at the extreme spin that has dominated for the past fortnight, even though Root himself was able to cash in to the tune of five wickets for eight with
his occasional off-breaks.
"I think that this surface is a very challenging one, a very difficult one to play on. But it's not for players to decide if it's fit for purpose; that's up to the ICC," he said, after a result that ended England's slim chances of reaching the World Test Championship final on home soil this summer.
"Again, I'm paid to play the game, not make those decisions, but it's something that
I'm sure they'll look at off the back of the last couple of matches. I'm sure they'll look at other wickets around the world at different times and maybe have to answer similar questions.
"As players we have to try to counter it as best we can. It is frustrating and something we have to learn from we have to get better and we have to keep finding a way to score runs on surfaces like this. India outplayed us.
"If I'm getting five wickets on there then you can tell it is giving a fair amount of spin, that sums the pitch up slightly. There always has to be an element of home advantage, because that is part of the beauty of Test cricket.
"You go around the world playing in all these wonderful places and you have to learn to develop your game, to find different ways. It's just how extreme you're willing to let the wickets be."
THE SCOTSMAN
Asked if the governing body should move to take greater control over the pitches, Root added: "I think that's something the ICC will look at and that's a decision they'll have to make on their own.
"As a player all you can do is play what's in front of you. There's always going to be slight home advantage but it is a shame when you have got so many fantastic players that can't have an input into a Test match."
Scottish Golf has cancelled its first three 2021 national championships, all scheduled for April, because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
The decision to call off the Scottish Boys’ Open, Scottish Girls’ Open and Scottish Women’s Open follows talks between the governing body, sportscotland and the Scottish Government.
Unlike elsewhere in the UK or Ireland, courses in Scotland are currently open. But, with restrictions still set to be in place in April, the events at Lundin, Longniddry and Royal Troon have all been scrapped.
“Following the latest update from the First Minister, and further discussions with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government, it is with regret that Scottish Golf has taken the decision to cancel the hosting of our first three national championships,” said a statement. “To avoid creating additional pressure on tee-sheets at our host venues, and to give club members as much access to their course as possible, we will not be rescheduling these events.
“We will be in touch with everyone who has entered to issue a full refund in due course.”
The entire 2020 Scottish Golf schedule was scrapped because of the pandemic but the plan is to look at events individually going forward this year.
For national open events, a decision will be made at the closing date. For national closed events, it will be two weeks before the practice day and, for national club events, a call will be made one week before the start date.
Jack Blain is hoping Duhan van der Merwe’s summer departure can open the door for him to play more regularly for Edinburgh next season.
Van der Merwe has agreed a deal to join Worcester after an impressive four-year spell in the capital.
Blain, who recently turned 21, has just signed a new contract with Edinburgh and is highly regarded. He started against Munster last weekend and will hope to feature when Scarlets visit BT Murrayfield tomorrow.
“I’ve really enjoyed the season so far. I’m hoping to keep kicking on and getting more game-time,” he said.
“I’ve only played two games on the wing this season for Edinburgh so I’m still learning with every game. Duhan is a great player and when he leaves there’s going to be an opportunity there and there will be healthy competition in the back three. So I want to do all that I can to try to impress.”
Blain, a Scotland under-20 international, has played mainly on the wing but has also been deployed at full-back. He knows that similar versatility has stood his Edinburgh team-mate Damien Hoyland in good stead.
“Before I played my first game I viewed myself as a winger. But I played fullback against Connacht and it’s been beneficial for me because it’s made me have a greater knowledge of the back three as a whole. I’d be more comfortable on the wing but it’s good to be able to play both positions. Damien is a good example of someone who’s a winger but transitioned to fullback. So it’s not a bad thing to have.”