'I do not think anything was wrong with the pitch' - Clive Lloyd's opines on 'unsatisfactory' Newlands pitch

In a stunning turn of events, the 2nd Test match between India and South Africa has entered the record books for being the shortest Test ever played, wrapping up in just two days. The game, which saw India emerging victorious by seven wickets on day two, has ignited a heated debate in the cricketing circles about the suitability of such pitches for Test cricket.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) didn't hold back its verdict, rating the pitch as "unsatisfactory." This has fueled discussions about the impact of challenging pitches on the essence of Test cricket. Former West Indian cricketer Clive Lloyd, however, seems to view things differently. In a media interaction following his Lifetime Achievement award from Adamas University in Kolkata, Lloyd expressed,

"If you are playing top-class cricket, you should be able to handle those sorts of things," as quoted by India Express.

Lloyd's perspective challenges the notion that the pitch was problematic. Lloyd said that he didn't think anything was wrong with the pitch. "I do not think anything was wrong with the pitch. Somebody made a hundred on that same pitch, on a wearing pitch, so I think it is just an application," he added, emphasizing the role of player skill and adaptability. However, the ICC Match Referee Chris Broad, who assessed the pitch, painted a contrasting picture.

“The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves, and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce,” Broad remarked, offering insights into the challenges faced by the players.

We need to stay neutral, especially match referees: Rohit Sharma

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had a different take on the matter. Expressing satisfaction with the Cape Town pitch, he urged for consistency in evaluating pitches across different cricketing nations.

"In India, when it turns on day one, people say, ‘Oh, there is a puff of dust’. We need to stay neutral, especially match referees," Rohit emphasised in the aftermath of the game.

Supporting Rohit’s claim regarding the perceived inconsistency in pitch evaluations, Lloyd raised a pertinent question. “And I am wondering if that had happened in India, with what they would have done to the ground persons. Because if you lose in a day and a bit, the first thing they will look at is the pitch. India had a turning pitch here the other day, and everybody said some terrible things about the pitch," Lloyd added.