Tag: Test Match

IND vs AUS 1st Test: Aussie Veteran Claims The Nagpur Pitch is Doctored; Demands ICC Intervention.

After the first look of the Nagpur pitch that is going to be used for India vs Australia 1st Test was revealed and the reaction from Steve Smith came out, a few former Aussie players started to react.

A veteran Australian player has said that India is straight up doctoring the Nagpur potch meant for the 1st Test between India and Australia. He had demanded that the ICC intervene and take strict action.

While talking to Fox Sports, the former Aussie cricketers looked unhappy about the Nagpur pitch that is going to be used for the 1st Test between India and Australia.

Also read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: Rahul Dravid not happy with Nagpur pitch, demands Curator for a new surface: Reports

IND vs AUS 1st Test: Aussies Call the Nagpur Pitch Doctored

Rober Caddick on SEN podcast said, “It’s a multi-toned pitch. The classic saying about pitches is, ‘Oh, it’s the same for everyone.”

“When the Gabba pitch too much grass was left on it, people were saying, ‘Yes, it was not a great wicket, but it was the same everyone. But you can’t say that about this pitch, Australia has six left-handers in their top eight, so if you start multi-preparing parts of the deck that’s straight-up pitch doctoring, it’s poor.” He added.

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie told SEN WA Breakfast, “I think the Indian curators are looking at a way for India to have an advantage. They potentially think spin will play a huge role and that the best chance to beat Australia will be to play to their strength.”

Another Aussie expert and former cricketer, Simon O’Donnell said ICC should intervene,”The ICC should step in and do something about it, if they think it’s not right.”

“If they think the pitch is not right, there’ll be an ICC referee at the game and the ICC will be watching this game.But there’s so many when it comes to India, we have all of these discussions, and nothing seems to happen,” He further added.

India vs Australia 1st Test Nagpur Stadium Pitch Report, Avg Score, Highest Total and More. India and Australia are going to kick off the 1st Test of the series at Nagpur Cricket Stadium starting from 9th February 2023. There is a lot of talk surrounding the Nagpur Stadium pitch, and here we have covered everything about it. This article will give you an overview of the Nagpur Stadium, which will get used for the 1st Test match between India and Australia. The team batting first has won two matches at this venue, similar to the team batting second. A total of five matches have been played in Nagpur, of which only one has been drawn.

IND vs AUS 1st Test Nagpur Stadium Pitch Report

Traditionally, the pitch at Nagpur has been good for both the batters and bowlers. The pitch at Nagpur Stadium has something for both the batters and bowlers. The pacers will get some help from the new ball, and the spinners are likely to get wickets as the game goes on between India and Australia.

On the fourth and fifth days, the Nagpur Stadium pitch can turn out to be a rank turner. Overall, the Nagpur pitch will have purchase for the batters and bowlers, and we will see an even contest with the bat and ball. The team which wins the toss should opt to bat first at this venue due to the psychological pressure that comes with the fourth inning of a Test match.

Also read: IND vs AUS Nagpur Test Tickets: Book Now for Just Rs 300

IND vs AUS 1st Test Nagpur Stadium Avg Score

The average first-inning score at the Nagpur Cricket Stadium is 345 runs in a Test match. The second-inning score averages 418 runs at this venue. On the other hand, the avg score comes down to 261 and 209 runs, respectively, in the third and fourth inning of a Test match at Nagpur Stadium. The team which bats first between India and Australia should look to score around 400 runs in the first inning.

IND vs AUS 1st Test Nagpur Stadium Highest and Lowest Total

The highest total at Nagpur Stadium in a Test match is 610/6 by India against Sri Lanka in 2017. On the other hand, the lowest score at this venue is 166/10 by Sri Lanka against India in the same match. Overall, the Nagpur Stadium offers enough assistance that batters can look to play their shots after settling down.

With no Test series win in India since 2004-05 and three consecutive series losses, Australia are determined to bounce back in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Now with less than a week left for the series to begin, Australia has made a secret plan to counter Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja on the spin-friendly Indian pitches. The Aussies have invited Jammu & Kashmir’s mystery spinner Abid Mushtaq to their Bangalore camp. 

Abid Mushtaq is a left-arm spinner who came to the limelight after scalping 8 wickets for just 18 runs against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy match. Abid Mushtaq is just 26-year-old and has scalped 32 wickets in just 7 Ranji matches.

Also read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: Kuldeep, Ashwin, Axar or Jadeja, Who Should Play? 3 Ideal Spin Combinations for Team India

“It is an opportunity for Abid to learn from the best. He will get the exposure of bowling to world-class batters like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, etc. It is a great news for J&K cricket. Abid is a great talent and has the potential to make it big,” KSportsWatch quoted a source as saying. 

Australia arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday ahead of the 4-match Test series. Following the 5-day camp, Australia will fly to Nagpur for the 1st Test that starts on February 9.

India and Australia are going to play the first match of the most awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy on 9th February 2023 at Nagpur. The Indian cricket team is without the services of their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and the reliable middle order batter Shreyas Iyer. Bumrah is likely to miss the entirety of the series, while Iyer is going to miss the first Test due to an injury. On the other hand, Australia is going to miss the services of Mitchell Starc in the 1st Test against India. The Aussie quick is recovering from an injury and will be added to the Australian squad after the 1st Test.

Currently, Australia are the favourites to win the first match as most of their batters are in form, and their bowling department is also doing well.

Also read: IND vs AUS Test Series: Hardik Pandya drops a huge update on his Test return ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, David Warner and Usman Khawaja are all in wonderful touch. Recently, Steve Smith blasted back-to-back centuries in BPL and said he is eager to win the Test series against India in India. Pat Cummin, the current number 1 bowler in Test cricket, is going to lead the Australian bowling attack with the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon by his side. The formidable Australian bowling line-up can pose many problems for Indian batters who have been struggling in recent times.

Also read: IND vs AUS 1st Test: Who Should Bat with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara for India? Here are 3 Best Combinations for the Indian Middle Order

Virat Kohli, the most reliable Indian batter, is going through the leanest patch of his career in Test cricket. He has a glaring weakness against spin, and Australia is bringing four of them. Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are also not in fine touch at the moment. Also, the Indian bowling line-up will certainly feel the absence of Bumrah against Australia.

This makes Australia the favourite to win the 1st Test match of the series against India.