Newlands’ poor pitch: All the reaction, coach defends groundsman

At a time when many cricket fans are bemoaning the decline of Test cricket, there was fierce criticism about the Newlands pitch, which played a significant part in seeing the second Test between the Proteas and India end within a day and a half.

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Due to inconsistent bounce, it was the sort of wicket that even the best batsmen battled to adjust to, and ultimately wickets fell at a ridiculous rate of knots.

After the game, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad sought to defend the pitch that was prepared.

“I know Braam [Mong, the groundsman]. Braam is a good guy. Sometimes good guys get things wrong,” Conrad commented, as quoted by CricInfo. “This doesn’t turn Braam into a rubbish groundsman,” Conrad said. “You’ve got to feel for the groundsman, especially down in Cape Town, where we’ve got wind to contend with and he wants to get it so right that maybe the wicket was a little bit over-prepared. He’s got to take it on the chin. That will be my message to Braam.”

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Newlands wicket in the spotlight

Test debutant Tristan Stubbs notably received an apology from Conrad “for giving him a debut on a wicket like this”, but the coach sought to downplay the circumstances in Cape Town.

“I say just give us a typical wicket that we are going to get here. I don’t want to be doctoring wickets,” Conrad said. “We’ve got new batters in international cricket, they need to learn their trade and playing on wickets like this doesn’t do it for them. I never did and never will prescribe to groundsmen. Ultimately they’ve also got jobs.”

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Backlash from India

Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma hit out at the standards of the pitch, but primarily what he viewed as double standards when it comes to criticism India faces for their slow and turning wickets.

“I mean, we saw what happened in this match, how the pitch played and stuff like that,” Rohit said. “I honestly don’t mind playing on pitches like this. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut in India and don’t talk too much about Indian pitches, honestly.

“Because you come here [in Test cricket] to challenge yourself. Yes, it is dangerous. It is challenging. So, and when people come to India, it is again pretty challenging as well. Look, when you are here to play Test cricket, we talk about Test cricket, the ultimate prize, Test cricket being the pinnacle and stuff like that. I think it’s important that we also stand by it.

“When you are put up against, a challenge like that, you come and face it. That’s what happens in India, but, in India on day one, if the pitch starts turning, people start talking about ‘Puff of dust! Puff of dust!’ There’s so much crack here on the pitch. People are not looking at that.”

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