Former India batter Aakash Chopra slammed critics and trolls who raised big questions on the Eden Gardens pitch, but avoided making similar comments on the Perth surface after the first Ashes Test lasted less than two days. Chopra called the selective criticism of pitches a clear case of “hypocrisy.”
The Eden Gardens surface in Kolkata used for the first Test between India and South Africa received a lot of hate after the match ended three days later. However, a number of pundits praised the quality of bowling from both sides following the conclusion of the Australia vs England Ashes Test in Perth on Day 2.
Speaking on her YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted the experts’ conflicting reactions to the presentations in Perth and Calcutta. Responding to criticism, he said:
“There’s a lot of hypocrisy. A lot of people on social media are trying to tell us, ‘What do you know?’ If 19 wickets fall in a day in Perth and the Test ends in two days, they say “the fast bowling was great”. Watch the quality of fast bowling and enjoy it. It’s peak Test cricket. They need to present it as if it is a gift from God to cricket.
“When the same thing happens at Eden Gardens, the West says ‘Test cricket is dead. India is laughing at Test cricket’. Interestingly, not only the West, some of our citizens are also doing the same.” added the former Indian opener.
Australia beat England by eight wickets in the Perth Test on Saturday 22 November. Set to chase a target of 205, they cruised home in 28.2 overs after Travis Head smashed 123 off 83. Only one batter crossed the half-century mark in the previous three innings of the Test match.
‘Batting standard has dropped’ – Aakash Chopra on Perth and Kolkata Tests end quickly
Sharing his own thoughts on the Perth and Kolkata Tests which did not go the distance, Chopra felt that it was a clear case of falling batting standards. Admitting that hitting was not easy on either surface, he refused to believe he was unplayable. The 48-year-old commented:
The truth is that the level of batting has dropped, especially defensive hitters have become much weaker. This applies to all countries: India, South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia as well. The Perth pitch wasn’t unplayable, but the batting wasn’t good and they just folded. The pitch at Eden Gardens was bad, but not unplayable, as Temba Bavuma showed.”
Veteran Australian playmaker Mitchell Starc was named player of the match in Perth for recording figures of 7-58 and 3-55. The second Ashes Test will begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
