New Delhi: Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has lashed out at all the three pitches used so far for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, saying that some degree of 'trickery' has been done in preparing such pitches.
While former Australian Captain Mark Taylor has supported demerit points given to Indore pitch, Gavaskar has opposed this move citing Gabba pitch where the match was completed in just two days.
India lead the four-match series 2-1 with one Test match left to be played in Ahmedabad. The Nagpur and New Delhi pitches were rated 'Average' by the ICC while the Indore pitch was rated 'Poor' by match referee Chris Broad.
In a blow to India and the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Match Referee Chris Broad has given three demerit points to the pitch at the Holkar Stadium where the third India-Australia Test was held.
India were bundled out for 109 and 163 in both innings, while Australia made 197 in the first innings and then chased down the target of 76 on the morning of the third day to win.
'Indore pitch was the worst of the three'
Taylor said, "I agree with the demerit points given to the pitch. I definitely think the pitches have been completely poor for the series so far. To be honest, the Indore pitch was the worst of the three. I don't think spinners should get that much help from day one on the pitch."
Ball turned too much from the first day: Taylor
The former opener said, “If this happens on the fourth or fifth day of the match, then things are understandable but if the ball turns so much from the first day itself, then it is the result of poor (pitch) preparation. I felt that the Indore pitch was very bad and the ranking should have been given accordingly."
Former India legend Sunil Gavaskar, however, is not happy with the 'poor' rating given to the Indore pitch. While admitting that the Indore pitch was tough to bat on, Gavaskar questioned the way the demerit points were given.
Three demerit points is little too harsh: Gavaskar
"It was a difficult pitch to bat. It is clear from the scores that it was not an easy pitch to bat on. I think three demerit points is little too harsh. If it was such a tough pitch to bat on , you would not have seen a 90-plus stand between Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. You would not have on Day 3 a 77-run stand if the pitch was such an impossible," Gavaskar said.
'Fast bowlers looked very dangerous in Gabba'
Gavaskar referred to the Test match that was played in November-December at the Gabba between Australia and South Africa, which also finished in two days, and the ball was flying around. He said the fast bowlers looked very dangerous. They could have caused serious injury.
Gavaskar said there was a threat to life and limb on that pitch. He said, "I don't know how many demerit points it got and who the match referee was. But I think there needs to be some sort of parity on how the demerit points are given."
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