India vs England: They played only one spinner in Jack Leach after sending Moeen Ali back to England. This strategy backfired as the pitch in Ahmedabad assisted the spinners as Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Leach and Joe Root wreaked havoc.
The controversy surrounding the pitch in Ahmedabad has raged on ever since India won the Test match inside 2 days. The pink ball Test was expected to be dominated by the pacers as it has traditionally happened. England had gone ahead and played three seamers in Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the 3rd Test match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium. They played only one spinner in Jack Leach after sending Moeen Ali back to England.
This strategy backfired as the pitch in Ahmedabad assisted the spinners as Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Jack Leach and Joe Root wreaked havoc. The seamers were just mute spectators during the match as spinners dominated the proceedings. India eventually won the Test inside 2 days as they defeated England by 10 wickets to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
However, former England captain Michael Vaughan wasn't happy with the pitch that was on offer in Ahmedabad. Vaughan on Friday said the more India is allowed to "get away" with producing pitches that are not deemed good enough for Test cricket, the more "toothless" the ICC will look.
The match ended inside two days with the pitch drawing flak from former players like Vaughan, though batting legend Sunil Gavaskar credited the Indian spinners rather than blaming the surface.
"The longer powerful countries like India are allowed to get away with it the more toothless the ICC will look," Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
"The governing body are allowing India to produce whatever they wish and it is Test cricket that is getting hurt," he said while expressing his displeasure with the BCCI.
Vaughan, who has led England from 2003 to 2008, felt broadcasters asking for refunds if a match finishes too soon may help change things.
"Perhaps it will take broadcasters to ask for refunds for things to change. They accept Test finishing early because the players are not good enough but not when home boards produce such poor pitches.
"They are left with three blank days but are still having to pay for production. They will not be happy and might think twice about good money for Test rights," Vaughan said.
He called India's win "a shallow victory" but admitted that the home team is much better equipped to deal with the conditions.
"India won the third Test but it was shallow victory. In fact, there was no winners from that game at all," Vaughan started his column with these words.
He added, "Yet, India showed their skill. We are not being fair if we do not accept that their skill levels in those conditions are far better than England's.
https://www.bmj.com/careers/previewjob/123116 https://www.bmj.com/careers/previewjob/123117 https://www.bmj.com/careers/previewjob/123118 https://www.bmj.com/careers/previewjob/123119"But the good of the game needs to be looked at and as ex-players it is our duty to call it out."
