Former cricketers Michael Vaughan, Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen took to Twitter talking about the Chennai pitch.
The Chepauk pitch has been a topic of debate between former cricketers since the Test match between India and England commenced. With the same pitch being used for the ongoing second Test as well, it has caught a lot of eyeballs on Twitter especially that of former cricketers.
While the pitch helped spin bowlers from Day 1, the second day's play saw 15 wickets fall. Seeing the conditions of the crease in Chennai, former cricketers Michael Vaughan, Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen took to Twitter talking about the same.
However, since Sunil Gavaskar heard about the said views, the former Indian batsman has not kept calm and given back to all criticism.
1. Michael Vaughan criticised the Chepauk pitch
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan lavished praise for India but also criticised the Chepauk pitch, calling it a shocker. He wrote, "It's entertaining cricket as things are happening all the time but let's be honest this Pitch is a shocker .. Not making any excuses as India have been better but this isn't a Test Match 5 day prepared Pitch ... #INDvENG".
It’s entertaining cricket as things are happening all the time but let’s be honest this Pitch is a shocker .. Not making any excuses as India have been better but this isn’t a Test Match 5 day prepared Pitch ... #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2021
2. Shane Warne did not agree with Michael Vaughan
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However, Australian legend Shane Warne did not agree with Vaughan and has voiced his opinion. Warne said that in the first Test, the pitch started 'exploding', and when the Indian side was thrashed in the first Test, nobody raised any objection.
"Come on maaaaaate ! The last few days of the 1st test, the wicket started exploding & no one said a word about the pitch when India had no chance. At least this test it's been the same for both teams from ball one. Eng bowled poorly & Rohit, Pant and Jinx showed how to bat".
Come on maaaaaate ! The last few days of the 1st test, the wicket started exploding & no one said a word about the pitch when India had no chance. At least this test it’s been the same for both teams from ball one. Eng bowled poorly & Rohit, Pant and Jinx showed how to bat. https://t.co/lx31k7BqCl
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 14, 2021
There’s no diff between the ball seaming/spinning to much. We always want a fair contest between bat/ball. India have batted & bowled better than Eng in this match - simple. Conditions have been the same for both sides from ball one. But this is excessive & in favour of the ball https://t.co/lx31k7BqCl
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 14, 2021
3. Sunil Gavaskar's reply to all criticism
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Speaking on Star Sports before the start of play on Day 3, Gavaskar indulged in a debate with former England cricketer Mark Butcher. Gavaskar said, "We saw how Rohit Sharma getting 150, and yesterday he was getting close to ball and batting. This criticism (on pitch) is pretty warranted".
Mark Butcher intervened saying, "Few people trying to make the point no matter who is on top, the ball should not be going through the top of the surface from Day 1 of a Test match. Is that what the tweets are about?"
To which Gavaskar replied, "Some of them are saying that - but you have a seeming pitch in England. Australia get dismissed for 46 - the ball keeps seeming all throughout. No one talks about that. It's always about Indian pitches, and when the ball starts to turn, people pose a problem".
"Australians do moan about that a lot, I admit," Butcher said.
"Yes. One or two who we know who don't like India, who don't like England, so they always be having a go at India and England, so that's fine. We ignore them because we know the double standards. But basically, we saw with Rohit Sharma's innings, if pitch was impossible, nobody would have scored 330," Gavaskar said.
"It's not unplayable. It's a challenging pitch, and that's what cricket should be about. In the first Test, on the first two days, when nothing was happening, people were saying 'it's boring, nothing is happening. It's so easy to bat.' So, there has to be a bit of balance between what is said. You cannot be complaining all the time," Gavaskar said.
"There are some who are forever complaining about this, that or the other. Yes, it's a challenging pitch. Rohit Sharma showed in the first innings. More than that, in the 2nd innings, after England have been bowled out for 134, Rohit showed no discomfort against England spinners.
"You can argue that maybe England spinners are not as good as Ashwin. That they did not bowl the lines and length that Ashwin or Axar did. But you have to also argue that who has got the better technique when it comes to batting and who has better skills when it comes to bowling. That really should be the debate rather than the pitch," Gavaskar signed off.
4. Sunil Gavaskar kept talking about the pitch
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Gavaskar was at his sarcastic best even after India lost wickets in Chennai, especially after Cheteshwar Pujara gots out in a bizarre fashion.
The former India captain took a dig at those who have questioned the surface and while sharing his views on the matter, Gavaskar said: "Right time to blame the pitch, the bat got stuck in the pitch. Now, it's even between bat and bowl".
5. Kevin Pietersen applauded India for preparing a "brave wicket"
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Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen applauded India for preparing a "brave wicket" despite being down in the four-match series.
Taking a cheeky dig at India skipper Virat Kohli, Pietersen wrote, "Such a brave wicket to prepare for a Test match IN India when India are down in the series. If India had lost the toss, they'd have gone down 2-0. Very very brave! Well tossed @imVkohli".
Such a brave wicket to prepare for a Test match IN India when India are down in the series.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) February 14, 2021
If India had lost the toss, they’d have gone down 2-0.
Very very brave!
Well tossed, @imVkohli
