Australia captain Pat Cummins took a dig at the Edgbaston pitch that hosted the second Test between England and India in Birmingham, calling it a nightmare for bowlers.
India’s 336-run win over England marked a massive comeback, led by Shubman Gill, who scored over 400 runs across both innings, and the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who dismantled England with the ball. But despite the dominant win, the condition of the surface became the biggest talking point.
Cummins Slams Edgbaston Pitch
Speaking to reporters, Cummins didn’t hold back in his criticism of the pitch, comparing it unfavorably to the conditions in Grenada.
“Who would want to be a bowler over there? Not surprised with the fact that it was the third flattest wicket in the history of England cricket,” Cummins said.
He further contrasted the Edgbaston surface with the one in Grenada, where Australia recently played the West Indies, pointing out how different the challenge was for bowlers in each setting.
Compares It to Grenada’s Bowler-Friendly Surface
In contrast, the surface in Grenada was damp and bowler-friendly, a nightmare for batters as West Indies were outclassed by quality Australian bowling, with the visitors sealing the series 2-0 and one Test still to go.
“Test cricket over here compared to Test cricket over there looks like two different sports. Looks like it’s going to be a good series over there. It’s 1-1. I didn’t watch a lot of it, but I saw the scores,” he added.
In contrast, the surface in Grenada was damp and bowler-friendly, a nightmare for batters as West Indies were outclassed by quality Australian bowling, with the visitors sealing the series 2-0 and one Test still to go.
Gill Criticizes Dukes Ball Despite Edgbaston Heroics
Anyway, India may have crushed England at Edgbaston, but Player of the Match Shubman Gill didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Dukes’ ball, calling it a threat to the essence of Test cricket.
“It’s very tough for the bowlers out there. More than the pitch, it’s the ball that’s the issue; it goes out of shape way too quickly and gets soft fast. I’m not sure if it’s the wicket or something else, but it’s making things hard. In conditions like these, with nothing in it, taking wickets becomes a real challenge,” Gill expressed his dissatisfaction at the post-match press conference.
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The 3rd Test of the India vs England series begins on July 10 at Lord’s after a short break, with the series currently level at 1-1. Stay tuned for more updates on England vs India 3rd Test
