After the second India vs South Africa Test ended within two days, the Cape Town pitch has been under the scanner, with many experts slamming it. And it is not just the Indians doing so, but South Africa coach Shukri Conrad joined the bandwagon too. The two teams played the shortest Test ever, which ended in just 107 overs, and the latter termed the Cape Town pitch as ‘not great’.
“I don’t know what people want me to say. You only need to look at the scores. 1.5-day Test match! You need to look at how they chased 80 (79). Sad state when you need more luck than skill. All the ethics and values of Test cricket goes out the window,” Conrad told the reporters.
Not that the Centurion surface was any better, but South Africa still managed to get over 400 there. But at Cape Town, the ball just took off from the good length area and made life hell for batsmen.
“I don’t know what’s going on here. I have moved on. Not in a position to know the goings on between the walls here. Everybody knows the wicket wasn’t great,” Conrad added. But in the end, Conrad did sympathise with the Cape Town curator Braam Mong.
“I know Braam Mong. Braam is a good guy. Sometimes good guys do bad things or make mistakes. This doesn’t make him a rubbish groundsman. There will be a lot of learnings for him. I might pop in here and have a word with him to see what he is seeing. You have to feel for the groundsmen too. He wants to get it right too… so the wicket might be over-prepared. Take it on the chin,” Conrad said.
