Elgar expresses concern about the pitch, but Cummins claims it is not harmful.
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| 'Potentially Dangerous' The Gabba Pitch is under Scrutiny: 'Is That a Good Advertisement for Tests?' |
The Gabba pitch may face scrutiny after hosting Australia's second-shortest Test match. South Africa captain Dean Elgar said that he contacted the umpires in the final moments to ask when circumstances would be judged unsafe, even though Pat Cummins had no reservations about the surface.
"When KG [Rabada] got [Travis] Head out down leg, I asked the umpires, 'how long does it go on until it possibly becomes unsafe?'" Elgar said. "Then [Anrich] Nortje started bowling those little ones that flew over our heads. I realize the game is dead and buried; I never intended to modify or cease the game. That is where the umpire's judgment, not ours, comes into play. I'm not going to say whether it was safe or dangerous."
Elgar also stated that he has yet to receive a response from the officials. "Only a few runs were remaining, so I figured they thought I was simply trying to make fun of them," he explained. "However, getting a response isn't a terrible starting point for the future."
According to Cummins, the pitch had not become unsafe. "There was no way," he said. "There was some sideways movement and some up and down bounce, but it was good. No balls were bouncing off a length or anything.
"It was obviously difficult. Two days is probably not optimal... I don't mind if the groundsman occasionally errs on the greener side; [I've] played a number of Tests when they erred on the flatter side. It appeared to be the same for both teams."
Two powerful bowling attacks utilized a surface with much movement and some uneven bounce to create just Australia's second two-day finish. The only other Test in the country to terminate with fewer deliveries was between Australia and South Africa in Melbourne in 1931-32, which is also the shortest Test of all time, with the visitors bowled out for 36 and 45.
In 2022, the totals were less spectacular, with South Africa only reaching 99 thanks to a last-wicket partnership of 30 between Khaya Zondo and Lungi Ngidi. Kagiso Rabada took four wickets as Australia pursued 34 for victory, and 15 of the runs came from wide bouncers that soared past the keeper.
"You must ask yourself if that is good advertising for our format. Thirty-four wickets in two days - a one-sided affair, "Elgar stated. "The nature of it, how it began to play with some very steep bounce with the old ball, puts you as a batting team on the defensive. No, I don't believe that was a terrific Test wicket."
It's not uncommon for Sheffield Shield surfaces to start green at the Gabba - and they usually smooth out throughout the first few days - but the hints of uneven bounce that crept in on the second day were alarming as divots that appeared on the first day began to solidify. Alex Carey and Temba Bavuma were both elbowed, and Bavuma was then lbw by one that stayed low from Nathan Lyon.
"It was surprising to watch how soon this one started devoting and how rapidly the ball sped up, particularly the new ball," Elgar remarked. "And additionally, today, the older ball was flying through, which shouldn't be happening. The divots significantly influenced the sideways movement, up and down, and the sharp bounce, which is pretty challenging.
According to some Australian players and those who had watched a lot of cricket at this place, the surface, while having the same 5mm of grass as last year's Ashes, was the most difficult they had seen.
"I've never seen one this green," Ricky Ponting told Channel 7. "Matthew Hayden has played here longer than I have, and he hasn't seen one as green, and Justin Langer hasn't either. Nathan Lyon had a lot of up-bounce in the opening few innings of this contest. That one dropped just a tad. These are some of the divots. These balls will remain down if they land on the front area of the divots, which is closest to the bowler. The ones that land on the other end of the divot will be the ones that go up."
The ICC's pitch monitoring procedure assigns a surface to one of six classifications, with the lowest - unfit - reserved for extreme circumstances. The 'below average' and 'bad' evaluations carry one and three demerit points, respectively. A stadium may be prohibited from hosting international cricket if it receives five during five years.
Below average is "either minimal carry and/or bounce and/or more than occasional seam movement, or occasional variable (but not severe or dangerous) bounce and/or occasional variable carry," according to the ICC's guidelines.
"If any of the following conditions apply, a pitch may be classified "poor," according to the part under the bad rating:
- At any point throughout the game, the pitch has considerable seam movement.
- At any game stage, the pitch's bounce is very uneven for any bowler.
- The surface is conducive to spin bowlers, especially early in the game.
- The pitch exhibits little or no seam movement or turn at any point during the match, as well as no appreciable bounce or carry, depriving bowlers of a fair duel between bat and ball.
- Excessive moisture causes the pitch's playing qualities unpredictable, while excessive dryness causes the surface to degrade.