'It's frustrating': England captain Heather Knight on used pitch for Bristol Test against India women, ECB responds

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.

Hahahahaha of course England’s first home test match for 2 years is on a USED WICKET!!!

Massive moment in the game playing India in a test match… I know, yes, perfect let’s stick them on a used one.

You have to laugh or you will cry.

WHAT. A. SHAMBLES.

it plays well.

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) June 15, 2021

HK the leader they don't deserve. "It is what it is."

FWIW it may well play okay, Bristol has been gd in past on used wickets.

But it's the principle innit? Understand was an oversight that wasn't rectified in time.

Can. You. Imagine. If. This. Happened. To. A. Men's. Test.

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) June 15, 2021

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."

England Women play India in a Test for the first time in seven years tomorrow, but it'll be on a pitch already used for a T20.

Here's captain Heather Knight...#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/UWZQje2ZE5

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 15, 2021

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.