The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) found itself embroiled in controversy ahead of the Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand. Accusations were made that the pitch had been swapped at the last minute, raising concerns about fairness and integrity. Despite the uproar, the match went ahead as scheduled, resulting in a high-scoring contest and India emerging as the victors.
In the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa, another twist awaited. A used pitch was deployed for the game, adding to the intrigue surrounding the tournament. The match proved to be a nail-biter, with Australia narrowly clinching victory. Following the intense encounter, Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc couldn’t resist making a cheeky comment about the pitch for the final.
Australia’s performance in chasing a mediocre target of 213 runs left much to be desired. They lost seven wickets during the run-chase, causing doubts to linger about their readiness for the final. When Starc was asked if he was concerned about the upcoming final, given the difficulties faced against South Africa, he responded in a playful manner, saying, “I guess we’ll find out when we get to Ahmedabad tomorrow and see if it’s a fresh wicket or an old wicket.”
During the press conference, Starc was also questioned about the nature of the pitch at the Eden Gardens. He acknowledged that it was a challenging surface, describing it as a “bare wicket.” He speculated that the pitch’s exposure to covers for an unknown period of time may have contributed to the initial difficulty faced by batsmen. Despite its inconsistencies, Starc highlighted the excellent performance of teammate Josh Hazlewood and their effective collaboration during the power play.
As the conversation turned to the surprising nature of the pitch, considering the high-scoring games witnessed in the league stage of the tournament, Starc admitted that he was not an expert in reading pitches. He mentioned that the practice wicket had shown significant turn, and it was no surprise that the playing pitch had been used multiple times. While it exhibited some unevenness in pace, he noted that it also offered moments of seam movement. Starc concluded by stating that although the pitch’s behavior was somewhat unexpected, it was refreshing to see the ball dominate the bat on occasion.
Despite the controversies surrounding the pitch, the Cricket World Cup continued to captivate fans. The focus now shifted to the eagerly anticipated final, where India would face Australia in what promised to be a thrilling showdown.
