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Belter of a wicket at Chennai did Test Cricket no favours

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Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo praises Virender Sehwag's superb innings but wonders whether cricket fans are happy just to watch the batsmen pile on the runs

I object to contrived situations in sport where the true worth of a competition or match is devalued by extraneous forces. One example of what I mean is that a run or a wicket against Bangladesh is worth exactly the same as against Australia in the record books. If you are fortunate to play lots of games against the inconsequential minnows you have inflated attainment. Statistics become distorted and makes it harder to judge accomplishment. Matches against substandard Zimbabwe and Bangladesh should be stricken from the records.

When preparing a wicket for a Test Match we all understand that last minute bad weather can affect things but generally we would like a track fit for a game of cricket between two sides. In this country I genuinely believe the groundsmen try and produce something that lasts five days with a little for the bowler and a little for the batsmen. It is not always the case on the sub-continent where they are infatuated with batsmen and neglect bowlers.

People going to Test Matches want to see a 'test of skill'. That was why they were called tests originally. Yes, they want to see sixes and fours but they want to see the fall of wickets too. They want to see a batsman cleaned bowled with the bails cartwheeling through the air. They want to see a yorker, a bouncer, a crack in the ribs, they want to see swing and seam, they want to see forward and defensive shots, an edge through the slips for four, great catching and fielding with run-outs and of course intelligent spin bowling. They want to see their heroes showing inspiration, courage and technique. I don't know of anyone who just wants to see the batters have a net.

Which brings me nicely to the pitch at Chennai. What an absolute disgrace that was! It made the match a farce. I cannot tell you how good the innings from Sehwag and Amla was, the pitch had been doped! The spectator and TV viewer were ruthlessly kicked in the groin as they handed over their hard-earned cash. My advice in India is not to buy a ticket on the first three days! Who can possibly win in that situation except the Jacques Kallis's of this world who just likes to bat to protect his average? You must offer something to the bowler on day one surely? Thank heavens Dravid did not get in on the first day, he would still be there on day six.

The Head Groundsman Parthasarathy incongruously said it was a result-orientated pitch but he was outed by the truthful Harbajan Singh who called it 'a paata'. It is a term that describes a benign, flat surface with absolutely nothing for the bowler. At the end of the first day's play he called it a 'super paata'. India had gone into the game with seven batters and just four bowlers, two of them spinners. There lies the clue! Add 35 degrees Celsius to the equation and you no longer have a cricket match - just a war of attrition. The paying public deserves better than this!

The M A Chidambaram Stadium is the third oldest ground in the country with sufficient history in preparing pitches. It is normally bouncy and offers something to bat and ball but Parthasarathy appears to have made this pitch to order. True, that in recent times the wicket has got flatter but this was beyond the pale!

The irony about India preparing such tracks for home Tests is that their recent successes abroad have all come on bowler-friendly surfaces. Spiced up pitches in Kingston and Johannesburg have produced Indian wins. So have swing-fests at Headingley and Nottingham. They triumphed on the fast pitch in Perth also. It's high time someone realised that India's best chance of winning is on a track with some life, they are a top class side and do not need gerrymandering!

The 2nd Test between India and South Africa takes place at Ahmedabad on 3 April 2008. More of the same is expected (Dravid has batted for 10 hours on this track making 222). The wicket there is baked and bare - a slow, low pitch for the Indian spinners to nibble away on. Very few Test Matches have produced results at Motera hence the new found adoration of ODI. You can confidently lay the tourists here, Harris and Petersen do not compare to Harbajan and Kumble (who are key). India are [2.72] with South Africa [4.9] and the draw is [2.16]. Should India win the toss (then get on) I have a vision of Graeme Smith scuttling back to the dressing room to chair a survival meeting.

Batathons on lifeless and unforgiving tracks is the quickest way to send the new generation to the limited over format. They do not want to watch a turgid contest where bat continually and relentlessly dominates ball? And neither do I!

India have called in veteran Aussie Les Burdett to educate curators and groundsmen for the forthcoming IPL Competition. He is a familiar face in seminars on the subject. The IPL authorities also announced monetary incentives for associations to come up with good tracks. What a disaster for the IPL if they had to play on wickets like Chennai!

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