Controversial former England captain, Michael Vaughan, has opined that Test cricket in India is boring and heavily skewed in favour of batsmen and scoring bucketloads of runs.
Opining that matches are lop-sided in India after the hosts piled on a 600-plus total at Pune against South Africa, Vaughan once again distanced himself from the Indians.
“Test match cricket pitches in India are boring…The first 3/4 days the contest is far too in favour of the bat…needs more action for the bowler…My thought of the day …,” Vaughan tweeted
Test Match Cricket pitches in India are boring … The first 3/4 days the contest is far too in favour of the Bat … needs more action for the bowler … My thought of the day … #INDvSA
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 11, 2019
The comments came after South Africa could eke out just five Indian wickets in a first innings total of 601. In Tests since 2015, teams have made 600-plus totals 19 times in Tests. 10 of those have been contributed by India alone, a sign of not just India’s domination but also the plausible fact that pitches have been dead flat.
However, it hasn’t deterred the hosts from winning most of their home Tests, suggesting that it isn’t impossible for teams to take 20 wickets and win Test matches here in the Indian sub-continent.
The reactions to Vaughan’s tweet were hilarious and show how Indians firmly disagree with his point of view.
If balls turn from day u will be the first one to complaint 😏.. last series against Aus or SA where pitches were favoured spinners then Ind get blamed for making rank turner…by the way this pitch is offering lots for bowlers it's Indian batsman who r playing well
— subham (@Jethalal_420) October 11, 2019
When we prepare Rank Turners which suits Test Cricket in subcontinent which is the identity of subcontinent you all starts crying in front of ICC. Why? cant overseas batsman play spin? Doesn't spin bowling is too part of cricket?#INDvSA
— Manish (@IManish311) October 11, 2019
England lost 4-0 despite winning tosses so calm down mate
— saurabh. (@Boomrah_) October 11, 2019
What nonsense, did you see Umesh and Shami bowling on Day 2 at the end of days play. You need quality bowlers n not pitch
— Sunil Shenoy (@sunil_shenoy) October 11, 2019
The opinions in the comments showed that Vaughan’s opinion hasn’t gone down well with the Indian contingent and rightly so after the South Africans were reduced to 36/3 at the end of second day’s play.