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Dilip Vengsarkar praised the balanced pitches in the India–England Test series, urging BCCI to replicate them for upcoming series against West Indies and South Africa.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir inspects the pitch (PTI)
Among the many discussion points from the recently concluded India–England Test series, the quality of the pitches deserves more attention. Across all five matches, the playing surfaces offered an excellent balance between bat and ball, ensuring competitive cricket that extended to the fifth and final day each time. In an era where home advantage often heavily favours the host nation, particularly when India tours abroad, this series stood out for producing fair, sporting wickets that drew no major complaints from either side.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar praised the series as an example of how pitch quality can enhance Test cricket.
“I must appreciate the culture of Test cricket in England. There were huge crowds for all the Tests, and the sporting wickets ensured that the result of all five Tests was decided on the fifth and final day. This series, which will be remembered for ages, has revived interest in Test cricket among cricket lovers. It has increased Test cricket’s importance. This shows that if you dish out good pitches, Test cricket can not just survive, but flourish too,” Vengsarkar was quoted as saying by TOI.
What Does Dilip Vengsarkar Want For India?
He further urged the BCCI to replicate this approach for India’s upcoming home series against West Indies and South Africa later this year, warning against the “short-sightedness” of preparing surfaces solely to suit captains and coaches seeking quick wins and World Test Championship points.
“I hope that India do the same in their upcoming international season (two Tests each against West Indies and South Africa) and provide good, sporting wickets for Tests. The BCCI must not pander to the short-sightedness of captains and coaches, who are just looking for short-term gains by winning matches and qualifying for the World Test Championship final,” Vengsarkar added.
The inaugural Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy turned out to be one of the most closely fought contests between the two nations, ending in a 2–2 draw. India clinched the final Test with a thrilling 6-run win at The Oval. Batters largely dominated the early days of each match before bowlers came into their own as the pitches wore down, creating an enthralling ebb and flow.
However, the ICC’s pitch ratings offered a more measured verdict. Of the four matches rated so far, only the Headingley surface from the first Test was deemed “very good,” while the next three — Edgbaston, Lord’s, and Old Trafford — were rated merely “satisfactory.” The assessment for The Oval pitch is still awaited.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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