Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has criticized the surface used for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Michael Clarke said the SCG was his favorite ground in the world but added it was the worst ground he had ever seen in Sydney.
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the recent Test was seamers-friendly, where Australia defeated India by six wickets in just three days. The grass pitch has been rated 'satisfactory' by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Neither team scored more than 200 runs in the four innings.
SCG is my favorite ground in the world – Michael Clarke
Speaking on ESPN Around The Wicket, Clarke expressed his disappointment with the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Clarke described the pitch as the worst he had ever seen in Sydney and criticized it for not being a good cricket wicket.
“SCG is my favorite ground in the world. It's my home ground and I hate to say it out loud, but this is the worst ground I've ever seen in Sydney. I didn't think it was a good cricket wicket,” Clarke told ESPN's Around The Wicket.
I didn't think it was a good game of cricket – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke claimed the pitch had issues, including the ball bouncing unevenly during the match. Clarke said that while he was not complaining, he pointed out that if a similar over-spin wicket had occurred in India, the Australian fans would have come down hard on him.
“You know, the balls aren't just going up off the surface, they're shooting down at the end of the second day. I didn't think it was a good cricket wicket and of course Australia win so I'm not complaining but if we went to India and played and they produced a wicket like that in terms of an angry turner and the game it would be over in two and a half days, I think all Australian cricket fans would stink. So I think we just have to be a bit careful now and around that,” Clarke stated.
It's been really tough for batting all summer, but Sydney have been extreme – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke acknowledged that different countries produce pitches suited to their conditions, but pointed out that the wickets throughout the summer were challenging to bat on and ideal for fast bowling, particularly with the new ball.
“We go to different countries and they produce conditions that are favorable for them. I think we have to bite our tongues because these wickets in general, throughout the summer, have been very tough to bat on and have been great for fast bowling, especially against the newbies. ball but Sydney were extreme, I didn't think it was a good test,” Clarke concluded.
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