Indian cricket needs to get its pitch right

The Border Gavaskar Trophy brought into sharp focus the debate about Indian pitches. But the argument here is not about turners, it's one of extremes. Did India push things too far in their quest to gain an advantage and is it fair to do that?

- Ashish Magotra

India has always been the land of spin. Puffs of dust, dry, breaking wickets, the rough outside the leg stump or otherwise, fielders around the bat, lots of chatter, sharp turn, unpredictable bounce we have heard these terms for a long time. And because of this, the country produced great spinners and great players of spin too.

But the pitch was brought into sharp focus during the recently-concluded Test series between India and Australia - not because it aided the spinners (that has always happened), but because of how much it aided them. The first two pitches of the series were rated average by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the wicket for the third was rated poor by the match referee, and the fourth Test was played on a pitch that was as placid as it can get.

The ball turned from the first delivery as India chased the home advantage with the kind of fervour one usually reserves for far greater things. The bounce was uneven and as such, it usually seemed to make the game anything but a proper contest between bat and ball. Supporters of this tactic pointed to the green tops that get dished out when India go on tour. If anything, they argue, India were only returning the favour. Neutral fans, on the other hand, didn't quite enjoy the Tests that tended to last just twothree days on average.

The length of the match itself can mean three things broadly: First, the technique of the batters isn't good enough on turners; second, the pitch has made the game less about skill and more about luck, and finally, the curators are being asked to prepare a very specific type of wicket. Perhaps it is a combination of all three.