England may complain over standard of pitch
ENGLAND’S cricketers are considering a formal complaint about the Ahmedabad pitch that saw this week’s third Test against India descend into a farce lasting barely two days.
Coach Chris Silverwood revealed yesterday he is in discussion with captain Joe Root over England’s response to the second under-prepared surface in successive Tests that saw excessive turn from the start, in breach of ICC regulations.
If they press ahead, England will make their second representation to match referee Javagal Srinath, following their plea for ‘consistency’ from TV umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin after he twice rapidly ruled in India’s favour on the first day.
‘We will be talking about certain things behind the scenes,’ said Silverwood when asked about the pitch at the re-built Narendra Modi Stadium on what should have been the third day. ‘We are disappointed to be sat here when there should be three days left. We have spoken to the match referee once but not about the pitch and now Joe and I have to have a conversation and see where we go with it. I’m not in a position to say what we should or shouldn’t do but I’m not saying we just have to accept the pitch.’
England will think long and hard before making their thoughts public about pitches in Chennai and Ahmedabad as it is a sensitive subject made more delicate by the presence in India during this Test of England Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison and new chairman Ian Watmore, who are unlikely to want to rock the boat with the all-powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India.
But clearly behind England’s diplomacy when asked before now lies disquiet about pitches that have seen them badly exposed by world-class spinners and bowled out for fewer than 200 runs in five successive innings.
What is clear is that England have to massively improve ahead of next week’s final Test if they are to avoid another emphatic defeat and a 3-1 series loss after such a highly promising start with a comprehensive victory by 227 runs in Chennai.
‘The pitch pushed us to extremes of what most of our players, if any, have experienced,’ said Silverwood after 28 of the 30 wickets lost in the shortest Test since the end of the Second World War fell to spin. ‘But, whatever the pitch did or did not do, India ultimately played better than us on that surface. Now we have to see where we can make amends and come out fighting in the next one.’