Pitches like Indore not suitable for Test cricket: Hayden

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Indore. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has slammed the pitch being used for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, saying such pitches are not suitable for the longer format of the game.

India won the toss and decided to bat first on a dry pitch but what happened after that was surprising. The pitch was giving heavy turn and uneven bounce to the ball and the hosts lost half their team for 45 runs and lost two more wickets in the run up to lunch. India were reduced to 109 runs in the first innings after lunch.

Hayden, commentating during the first session, said, “It should not happen that the spinner comes to bowl in the sixth over itself. That is why I do not like such pitches. The ball should not be so low on the first day and it should not turn so much.” Shouldn’t get it. It doesn’t matter whether Australia wins this Test or India.”

After Dharamsala was found unfit for the third Test, Indore was handed over to host the match. On an average, the ball turns 2.5 degrees for spinners, while in New Delhi it was 3.8 degrees, while in Indore the turn reached 4.8 degrees.

Hayden said, “That’s why I have trouble with pitches like that. A spin bowler shouldn’t come in to bowl in the sixth over. 4.8 degrees is a tremendous amount of turn. That much turn you see on the third day.”

He said, “You should also give a chance to the batsman. The first and second day should be for batting. It should not be a paradise for spin bowlers. The game should not move so fast. You have got a four- or five-day Test match. Otherwise, let it go as it is. We will play a three-day match.”(IANS)

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