Time has changed Faisal, if we have to make our batsmen competant on all sort of pitches, we need to start providing them.
Playing on an equally sporty wicket for a batsman and a bowler creates the real and fair contest. PLUS, it looks so ugly when we play on dusty subcontinent pitches, as compare to shiny Aussie/English pitches with lush green outfield. It reflects the cleanliness of the environment as well. Our fields have dull green grass and bald ugly pitches.
Outfield grass, or lack thereof, is again a different issue. I absolutely agree that we should put proper grass in the outfields of all our stadiums. It shouldn't be too difficult either. I know, at our home in Lahore, we have a very lush comfortable grass. I think it has more to do with overuse of stadiums. Top level international cricketers deserve to play on lush outfields, and not be scrapped or bruised if they dive to stop a ball. The outfield at Karachi was a disgrace. Everytime a fielder dives, they will be shown looking at their bruised knees and elbows. Bad. Bad. Bad.
Good points rasied by fellow members. One point I do like to emphasize is we should take into consideration in preparing green top surfaces consistently, even if the track renders lifeless after a day or two. We need all the help we can get, and instead of “waiting” to see whether or not Pakistani players can adapt a strategy or a method to quickly mingle in with the rest of the world, we should be the first ones to step in this kind of issue by providing help to our ever-growing talent, so that the ‘dependency’ only remains on the true form and skill of the batsman, and not depend on the “nature of the pitch”.
PCB is the key. Let’s all write a letter to Mammu Shayaryaar, and explain him the situation. I am sure he will understand.
And talking about going miles, the Pakistanis have yet to win a Test series in Australia, West Indies and South Africa. To prove England’s Geoffrey Boycott wrong Pakistan must win Test series against these countries.
Boycott claims that Pakistanis have not done well in these countries mainly due to batsmen’s being brought up on batting-friendly tracks. The main reason of their failures have been seaming and bouncy tracks in these countries.
