There’s a lot of crap spoken about pitches

India will tackle Australia in a four-match Check sequence, which begins on the Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur from February 9. Within the build-up to the sequence, there was loads of chat about pitches. Talking throughout a digital press convention organized by Star Sports activities, Chappell stated, “What Ian Healy stated that Australia can have the benefit… quite a lot of that’s based mostly on what Australia has completed at dwelling. They’re not taking part in at dwelling. They’re taking part in in India. Why anybody would suppose that India don’t begin with a bonus, I don’t know.

“There’s quite a lot of crap spoken about pitches. I consider nobody apart from the curator ought to have a say on what wickets are produced. I don’t suppose it ought to be as much as the gamers, the supervisor, the coach, anyone! You simply produce a very good pitch. Certainly a curator has been a participant and needs to provide a very good pitch,” he added.

He added each time he requested curators about the kind of pitch they thought was a very good one, the response was largely that the group should win on the fifth day. “That ought to be the goal of all curators,” in response to Chappell.

Requested for his views on what sort of pitches India ought to go for throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India coach Ravi Shastri backed tracks that will flip from Day 1. He opined, “I need the ball to show from Day 1! In the event you lose the toss, so be it. You wish to see the ball turning a bit. Or one thing there for the bowlers on provide from Day 1. It’s your energy. You’re taking part in at dwelling. Capitalize on it.”

Whereas Australia’s final Check sequence win in India got here in 2004, there have been some Aussie consultants who reckon that the guests have the higher hand towards India. Chappell, nevertheless, doesn’t share the identical view. In accordance with him, India will begin as favorites. He commented, “These feedback coming from Australia are based mostly on how they’ve carried out at dwelling. Enjoying effectively in Australia is a hell of so much totally different than taking part in effectively in India. They’ve some gamers who’re proficient sufficient to do effectively in India.

“However the factor is you’ll be able to go to India with quite a lot of confidence, but when they all of the sudden get you out cheaply, how lengthy are you able to keep that confidence in India. That’s essential. Anybody giving Australia the benefit is speaking via their hat! India have gotten to start out because the favourites. However that shouldn’t hassle the Australians. They need to be going to India considering they’ll win the sequence,” the 79-year-old concluded.

–By A Cricket Correspondent