Personally, I don't think the pitch was anywhere near as bad as the commentary makes out.
A lot of the commentators are looking after their mates trying the paint the pitch as abominable, when in reality it's just that it's not the flat track T20 style pitch we've become use to seeing.
I think the points highlighted by [member=65]Professer E[/member] and also [member=324]DJC[/member] about diminished techniques is very valid, and interestingly late yesterday Kim Hughes was making similar points on radio. He basically thought like myself that the pitch wasn't as bad as suggested, the bowling was good but not as good as some made out, and the batting was basically very poor. In particular Hughes made some very good points highlighting the apparent inability of the modern top end players to leave the pill, he said they play like they are obliged to score runs every over. That sounds to me like the influence of T20.
He mentioned stuff like batting techniques and tactics which force bowlers to change their length, turning over the strike regularly, and patience at the crease, all seem diminished.
A lot of the commentators are looking after their mates trying the paint the pitch as abominable, when in reality it's just that it's not the flat track T20 style pitch we've become use to seeing.
I think the points highlighted by [member=65]Professer E[/member] and also [member=324]DJC[/member] about diminished techniques is very valid, and interestingly late yesterday Kim Hughes was making similar points on radio. He basically thought like myself that the pitch wasn't as bad as suggested, the bowling was good but not as good as some made out, and the batting was basically very poor. In particular Hughes made some very good points highlighting the apparent inability of the modern top end players to leave the pill, he said they play like they are obliged to score runs every over. That sounds to me like the influence of T20.
He mentioned stuff like batting techniques and tactics which force bowlers to change their length, turning over the strike regularly, and patience at the crease, all seem diminished.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"