Followed by India’s terrific bowling performance against English batsmen in the first innings, a number of former England players came up with tweets blaming the Chepauk pitch. Countering their statements, Indian fans were posting tweets saying that no one complained when foreign pitches favoured pacers and commentator Harsha Bhogle, in his tweet, said “You can’t become great by complaining.”
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“Just to make it clear.India are a better team in these conditions.Have better spinners.Have more Bateman that have more skill of playing the spinning ball,but it’s still a very poor Test match Pitch..btw I have said it many times in UK when we have prepared Green ones” said Michael Vaughan in his tweet, while talking about Day 2 of second test.
He said that the pitch is a shocker.
It’s entertaining cricket as things are happening all the time but let’s be honest this Pitch is a shocker .. Not making any excuses as India have been better but this isn’t a Test Match 5 day prepared Pitch … #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2021
Just to make it clear.India are a better team in these conditions.Have better spinners.Have more Bateman that have more skill of playing the spinning ball,but it’s still a very poor Test match Pitch..btw I have said it many times in UK when we have prepared Green ones #INDvsENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2021
Kevin Pietersen, former English batsman came up with a tweet giving credits to the toss that was won by India. He said that India would have gone down 2-0 if they lost the toss. “Such a brave wicket to prepare for a Test match IN India when India are down in the series. If India had lost the toss, they’d have gone down 2-0. Very very brave! Well tossed, @imVkohli” his tweet read.
Such a brave wicket to prepare for a Test match IN India when India are down in the series.
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) February 14, 2021
If India had lost the toss, they’d have gone down 2-0.
Very very brave!
Well tossed, @imVkohli 🤣
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Mark Waugh, former Australian player also blamed the Chepauk pitch through his tweet.
I’m all for a good contest between bat and ball in test match cricket but this pitch in Chennai is unacceptable at test match level. You can’t have the ball going through the top of the surface on day 1 from the main part of the pitch. Ie not from the footmarks.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) February 14, 2021
Countering such tweets from the former cricketers and a number of followers, England former spinner Monty Panesar uploaded a tweet asking why spinners are not getting the recognition for their turning skills. “When the ball seams from middle stump day 1 of a Test match “What a great delivery” but if the balls turns “Pitch is not fit for Test Cricket” Why aren’t spinners allowed to turn the ball?” he posted in his tweet.
When the ball seams from middle stump day 1 of a Test match "What a great delivery" but if the balls turns "Pitch is not fit for Test Cricket" Why aren't spinners allowed to turn the ball? @Paul_NewmanDM @JohnSunCricket @GeorgeDobell1 @vikrantgupta73 @BoriaMajumdar #INDvENG
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) February 14, 2021
Harsha Bhogle, cricket analyst and commentator, while replying to a Simon who said that India should credit the pitch for the points they are going to get for the World test championship, said “It is when the going is tough that you discover who is up for it. There are greentops and trampolines and dusty pitches but that is why playing away is a challenge. India won Lords, England won Mumbai. You can’t become great by complaining.”
No Simon, it makes batting a skill. It is when the going is tough that you discover who is up for it. There are greentops and trampolines and dusty pitches but that is why playing away is a challenge. India won Lords, England won Mumbai. You can't become great by complaining. https://t.co/Gpvf2HNpVr
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 14, 2021
Former Legendary spinner Shane Warne also uploaded similar tweet and gave credits to Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Rahane for their batting display.
The toss was more important to win in the 1st test than this one, as it did nothing the 1st 2 days. Then exploded. This one has been a turner from ball one. Eng should’ve bowled India out for 220. No different between spinning or seaming & Rohit showed how to play on this surface https://t.co/xg1gPDetRs
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 14, 2021
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Come on maaaaaate ! The last few days of the 1st test, the wicket started exploding & no one said a word about the pitch when India had no chance. At least this test it’s been the same for both teams from ball one. Eng bowled poorly & Rohit, Pant and Jinx showed how to bat. https://t.co/lx31k7BqCl
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 14, 2021
Check out some of the reactions from fans below :
Rohit scored 161 runs in the track where the ball was turning from day 1, can't say the same for root in the 1st test where there was no movement at all. This time It speaks about inability of english batsmen more lol
— Jay. (@Itxjunu18) February 14, 2021
Stop crying, KP. The ball was turning in the first session yesterday as well.
— Sparsh Telang (@_cricketsparsh) February 14, 2021
Not to forget, England won 3 tosses in 2016, lost the series 4-0.
Funnily never heard such moaning about greentops. Flying/seaming balls never attract the kind of pitch criticisms as does the turning ball. Sour grapes mate. Also, spare the homily next time how pitches are becoming homogenous. ICC will deal with pitch rating, no worries.
— Stereotypewriter (@babumoshoy) February 14, 2021
Love to see Englishmen crying 💉💉💉
— Jay. (@Itxjunu18) February 14, 2021
Comment your views on these reactions of former players !!
