It was a long time ago, when India had failed miserably in one of the tours outside India, and the fast bowlers of that country had turned a mince meat of Indian batting. At that time, as a follow up measure it was decided to constitute a committee that would set up pitches all over the country to encourage fast bowling and to prepare the batsmen to face them. But it seems that it was one more idea which could not be translated from paper to practicality. The case of Rajkot is a pointer to this fact that the pitches puff and pop up, and the curators are still mentally attuned to preparing pitches that would and should spin and not support fast bowling at all. The bowls lie low and they do not come up to play strokes.

But why is this fuss about the nature of pitches one doe not know. Even Vivian Richards has been anguished and says that he should be consulted before any new match is scheduled at Antigua. We all seem to have forgotten that in the old times the pitches were never covered and the matches were played on them. It did test the actual acumen of the players.

There seems to be a veneering around to the view that one should not loose the match and any or every excuse can be brandied for the same. After all, the victories decide the commercial rewards, as also pave the way for being considered to do the honors in the national team as well. Besides, if the matches have to be abandoned, it also leads to monetary loss as well, so this controversy associated with the nature of the pitch.  

  A controversy is also being built up about the logistical arrangements being made at the grounds in Rajkot by both the teams. But what is new in this may be cricketers have been accustomed to certain pandering and pampering, otherwise for all other sports venues the arrangements are woeful.

May be, the players playing cricket have a vantage position so they can talk like this, and it could have an effect on the status of logistical arrangements for other sports being played in India as well. If that happens, then this protest would serve its purpose, and cricket would be said to have risen to the cause of other sports in the country as well.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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