'I'm thinking about bringing that curator out to the SCG' - Nathan Lyon slams Ahmedabad pitch critics

The pitch that was used for the third Test match between India and England has got the attention of the entire cricketing world. Several former cricketers have had their say on the pitch, and the opinions have been divided. And now, Australian spin bowling legend, Nathan Lyon has also let his thoughts known about the pitch at Ahmedabad.

Lyon was of the opinion that when a match is played on seaming wickets and when teams get bowled out for very low scores, nobody complains. The Aussie added that the moment the pitch starts turning, the entire world starts ‘crying’.

Lyon stated that the action was entertaining, and he watched the whole match. The Australian even quipped that he is keen on bringing the curator who prepared the pitch at Ahmedabad to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

“We play on seaming wickets around the world and get bowled out for 47, 60. Nobody ever says a thing. But as soon as it starts spinning, everyone in the world seems to start crying about it. I don’t get it. I’m all for it, it was entertaining. I was up all night watching it. It was absolutely brilliant. I’m thinking about bringing that curator out to the SCG,” quipped Lyon as quoted by India Today.

Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin defend Motera pitch

Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha too, came out and asked people to talk about the nature of the pitch on which Stuart Broad took 8 wickets. Ojha also stated that people would be fine if a match finishes within 2 to 3 days on a seaming wicket. He concluded by stating that the moment the pitch starts turning, people state that the wicket is not one ideal for Test cricket.

“Please talk about Stuart Broad’s 8 for 15, the wicket that he was bowling on in that match. What kind of a wicket was that? If the Test finishes in 2 or 3 days in seaming conditions where there is grass that’s absolutely fine. But the moment it starts turning and bouncing, that’s when you say it’s not a 5-day wicket or a Test-match wicket,” said Ojha in a chat with Sports Today.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who is known for speaking out openly on cricketing issues did not hold himself back either. Ashwin questioned who is the one to decide what a ‘good’ surface is. The off-spin legend also asked whether a good wicket would be one which seams on Day 1, then favors the batsman on Days 2 and 3, and then finally starts spinning. The Tamil Nadu spinner concluded by stating that there was not a single player from the England camp who is coming out and complaining.

“Who defines what a good surface is? The seam on the first day, then bat well in the next couple of days and spin on the last two days, come on, who makes these rules? We need to get over it and if you are asking whether the pitch in the third Test was a good surface, I do not see any players of England coming out and complaining,” questioned Ashwin in a press conference.

The Indian side pummeled England by 10 wickets inside 2 days at Ahmedabad to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series and also kept their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) alive. The 4th and final Test will get underway at Ahmedabad on 4th March 2021.