Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar slams Australia for ‘playing mind games’ ahead of the Test series against India starting February 9.
Sunil Gavaskar Slams Australia
During the Australia tour of India 2023, 4 Tests and 3 ODI matches will be played between February 9 to March 22.
Earlier Ian Healy had said that if India offered a ‘fair pitch’ in which there is consistent spin, without the ball “jumping ridiculously and sliding down low from day one”, then Australia will end up on the winning side.
Jumping as a supporter for India, former Pakistan captain and batter Salman Butt slams Ian Healy over his controversial statement regarding Indian pitches.
Gavaskar recalled the Test match against South Africa that ended in two days at Brisbane and said that the visitors do not have any position to criticise.
“The Aussies have started the mind games by talking about the pitches that were on offer when they toured here last. A country where a Test match finishes in two days has no right to moan about Indian pitches.
The Brisbane game against South Africa finished in two days. It’s not just a matter of the game finishing in two days, but the kind of pitch that was prepared. With the ball flying all over the place it was dangerous to life and limb.
On a turner the only issue is the reputation of batters that is in danger and not their life and limb,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for a website.
Gavaskar said that the ability to play spin bowling properly is the mark of a good batsman and as a result, a pitch like that will be a challenge for both sides.
“What the two-day finish in Brisbane showed was that even the best batters of both teams had their hearts in their mouths. Of course, some sections of the Oz media made excuses saying since it’s a batters’ game, a pitch like that gives the bowlers some chance.
Oh yeah, then why crib when the pitches in the sub-continent turn from Day one. Playing spin is the ultimate challenge for a ‘batter as it tests his footwork and the use of the crease to nullify the turn.
There are mind games with the bowler too, that’s why those who score a century or more in the sub-continent will be recognised as great batters,” the former Indian skipper further wrote.
As far as the 1st Test match is concerned, Australia ended their first innings after scoring 177 runs for 10 wickets loss. Jadeja played a massive role in ending the Aussies’ inning. Jadeja bagged his 11th 5-wicket haul during the process.
At the end of day 1, India scored 77 runs for 1 wicket loss where Rohit Sharma and Ashwin stands at the crease.
