Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023: Australia cricket experts level 'Pitch Doctoring' allegations ahead of opening Test in Nagpur

A massive cacophony has erupted around the apparent attempt by the Indian pitch curators to try and "manipulate" the playing pitch ahead of the opening Nagpur Test by multiple Australian selectors and cricket pundits.

Even before the commencement of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, the Australians have started raising massive concerns about the Indian pitches not being very neutral to players. It has also been pointed out how the surface is heavily in favour of the hosts as compared to their counterparts.

In the lead up to the Nagpur Test, the pictures of the pitch have gone viral and that has certainly left the Australian cricket experts fuming. It can be clearly seen that the area outside the off-stump of a left-hander has been left dry and not watered. Also, the rolling has only been done at the centre of the pitch and not on the good length area.

Australian pundits accuse India of unfair means

"It’s a multi-toned pitch. The classic saying about pitches is, ‘Oh, it’s the same for everyone”, senior cricket expert Robert Craddock said on SEN WA Breakfast. Craddock went on to blatantly accuse the Nagpur pitch curators of trying to indulge in malicious means and provide an unfair advantage to the Indian side.

“When the Gabba pitch had too much grass was left on it, people were saying, ‘Yes, it was not a great wicket, but it was the same everyone. But you can’t say that about this pitch, Australia has six left-handers in their top eight, so if you start multi-preparing parts of the deck that’s straight-up pitch doctoring, it’s poor,” he said. Many former Australian cricketers have also resonated Craddock's opinions.

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie told SEN WA Breakfast, “I think the Indian curators are looking at a way for India to have an advantage. They potentially think spin will play a huge role and that for the best chance to beat Australia will be to play to their strength.”

Former Aussie cricketer Simon O’Donnell urged the ICC to immediately intervene and ensure all wickets are prepared on a neutral basis, without any favouritsm. Taking a sly dig at the Indian curators, Donnell was sharp enough to levy that the ICC doesn't find it necessary to say India anything in such matters.

“If they think the pitch is not right, there’ll be an ICC referee at the game and the ICC will be watching this game.But there’s so many when it comes to India, we have all of these discussions, and nothing seems to happen.” he said.

The dry strip in the centre square at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium is virtually devoid of grass but the groundstaff have watered the surface apart from full-length areas outside the off stump of the left-handed batter at each end. Five members of Australia’s likely top seven — Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, and Alex Carey — bat left handed.

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