Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has criticized the surface used for the 5th Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Michael Clarke said the SCG was his favorite venue in the world but added it was the worst pitch he had ever seen in Sydney.
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground suited the seamen for the final Test, where Australia defeated India by six wickets in just three days. The grass pitch received a “satisfactory” rating from the International Cricket Council (ICC). No team scored more than 200 runs in four innings.
The SCG is My Favorite Place in the World – Michael Clarke
Speaking on ESPN’s Around The Wicket, Clarke expressed his disappointment with the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Clarke described the pitch as the worst he had ever seen in Sydney and criticized it for not being a good cricket wicket.
“The SCG is my favorite ground in the world. It’s my home ground and I hate to say it out loud, but it’s the worst ground I’ve ever seen in Sydney. I didn’t think it was a good cricket wicket,” Clarke told ESPN’s Around The Wicket.
I didn’t think it was a good cricket wicket – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke said there were problems with the pitch, including uneven bouncing of the ball during the match. Clarke said that while he was not complaining, he hinted that if a similar wicket with overspin was produced in India, it would be heavily criticized by Australian fans.
“You know, the balls don’t just come off the surface, they shoot off the bottom at the end of the second day. I didn’t think it was a good cricket wicket, and of course Australia win, so I’m not complaining, but if we went and played India and they had such a thing about the angry spinner if they took the wicket and the game was over in two-and-a-half days, I think all Australian cricket fans would stink. So I think we have to be a little bit careful now and around him,” Clarke said.
It’s been really tough for batting all summer, but Sydney have been extreme – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke acknowledged that different countries produce pitches that suit their conditions, but stressed that wickets throughout the summer are hard to hit and ideal for fast bowling, especially with the new ball.
“We’re going to different countries and they’re giving them good conditions. I think we have to bite our tongues because all summer those wickets have been really tough to bat on and great for fast bowling, especially against the new ball, but Sydney was extreme, I didn’t think it was a good Test wicket,” Clarke concluded.
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 2024-25 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).){kind=link}