The historic Test between England women and Indian women starting Wednesday will be held on a pitch on which a T20 Blast game took place last week.
Would it happen in a men's Test match? England women will be playing a home Test after a gap of two years at the County Ground in Bristol, but a four-day international game will be held on a used pitch, which has brought widespread criticism from around the world.
While England women's team skipper Heather Knight has termed it rather frustrating and 'not ideal', several former cricketers have criticised the move. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), however, later apologised saying that it is a mistake and they will ensure that it doesn't happen in the future.
Talking to BBC Sport on a day before the game, Heather Knight said, "It was used for a Gloucestershire T20 match last week, which I guess obviously is not ideal. We would much prefer to be on a fresh one but it is what it is and we do not know how it is going to play necessarily. We have got to go now and get our head around playing on the pitch we have been given."
ECB spokesperson said, "We know that England Women deserve a fresh wicket and we are sorry that we were unable to provide that in this instance.
"With the Test only being added to the calendar in mid-April, coupled with the lack of available first class grounds, we knew a fresh TV pitch was going to be a challenge. We accept that this issue shouldn't have arisen and we will make sure it doesn't happen in the future," he added.
Team India skipper Mithali Raj, on the other hand, played the issue down saying irrespective of the wicket being a fresh one or a used one, it is important for them to follow their strategies.
"Firstly, we are here to play a match. Whatever strip we get we will try and get a result out of it, and that is the thought process. Whether it is a used wicket or a fresh wicket, as players and as captain I’m there to support my team to get a result and for that, it is important that we follow our strategies accordingly.”
India and England last played a Test match in 2014 when the latter hosted in Wormsley, which the visitors won by 6 wickets.
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