Sunil Gavaskar attacks Australia and England legends for hypocrisy after 15 wickets in Sydney
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar vehemently defended the Indian pitches after a chaotic second day of the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on Saturday 4 January.
After a staggering 15 wickets fell on the second day of the ongoing New Year’s Test, the former Indian captain turned the spotlight on the grass surface of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), criticizing the track for its challenging nature. He also pointed out the evident double standards in pitch criticism among former cricketers.
Sunil Gavaskar criticizes double standards, criticizes SCG playing as 15 wickets fell
Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his frustration that Indian pitches are often subjected to harsh scrutiny, but harsh conditions abroad rarely spark similar outrage among former cricketers and cricket pundits. Pointing out the lush green SCG pitch that stunned even Glenn McGrath, he mentioned how the former Indian players have yet to complain despite his obvious difficulties.
The legendary batsman emphasized that every Australian would go to war if such a pitch was prepared in India. The noted commentator also pointed out that the Indian cricket team always faces overseas challenges without justification and if they lose, they accept it gracefully.
After stumps on Day 2 at the SCG, Sunil Gavaskar said on ABC Grandstand Radio, “If 15 wickets fell [on one day] hell would break out in India. Glenn McGrath said he had never seen so much grass. Have you heard any former Indian cricketer bemoan the pitch? When we go out to play cricket, we will endure it. And if they beat us, they beat us. It is very difficult to win at home abroad teams.”
Cows could walk and fall on him: Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar also raised concerns about the SCG surface, saying that this is not a true Test match, as it seems unlikely that the match will stretch into the fourth day between India and Australia. On a hilarious note, the former Indian captain also joked that the pitch in Sydney was so grassy that it could have easily served as a cow pasture.
He further remarked, “I said the cows could have gone and fallen on it, when we saw the field yesterday. This is not the ideal test match you want because you want it to go into days four and five. Unless it rains, I don’t see us being here for a fourth day.”
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Sunil Gavaskar takes aim at Australian and English pundits for criticizing Indian pitch after 15-wicket collapse in Sydney
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar hit back at former Australian and English cricketers who very often criticize Indian pitches and said that Indians never complain about foreign conditions.
He pointed to double standards, stating that if 15 wickets had fallen in one day in India, there would have been a massive outcry, but Indian cricketers have no regrets about the ground conditions at the SCG.
Gavaskar signed off by saying, “Former England and Australian cricketers talk about Indian pitches and conditions all the time. We are not lamenters; we are not cowards. You will never find us complaining, but 15 wickets a day in India, it would be hell.”
