IND AUS Ahmedabad Test: In a bizarre turn of events to say the least, India and Australian players were “barred” from entering the ground for warm-up ahead of Ahmedabad Test. The reason? Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Australia Anthony Albanese were taking a round of the iconic stadium in a chariot. Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith & Co were forced to go out of the stadium and warm up in the nets ahead of IND vs AUS 4th Test. Even the toss was delayed due to the political rally. Fans called out the politicians as politics took over cricket in the Border Gavaskar Trophy finale. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Australian and Indian players have been warming up for the fourth Test outside the venue at the nets, restricted from using the outfield due to a stadium visit from the Prime Ministers of the two nations #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/heXWm5tKkA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 9, 2023
IND AUS Ahmedabad Test: ‘Absolute Farce’, fans lash out as India & Australia players BARRED from entering ground for warm-up, forced to practise outside stadium, Check OUT
It was only a few minutes before the toss that the players finally got to enter the stadium for a brief warm-up. Due to security concerns, both prime ministers had a security blanket around them. As many as 3000 policemen provided security cover to the two PMs.
To make things better, a record crowd turned out to make the Ahmedabad Test most attended Test match ever. Although attendance numbers are not out, a record 1 lakh people have turned up.
No warmup. 😶 I hope no player pulls a hamstring and gets injured. This is stupidity of true https://t.co/P2ALEMh9zZ
— naq5 (@ntweet_55) March 9, 2023
IND AUS Ahmedabad Test: ‘Absolute Farce’, fans lash out as India & Australia players BARRED from entering ground for warm-up, forced to practise outside stadium, Check OUT
Melbourne’s MCG has the highest attendance record at 91,092 people turned up in 2013 for the Boxing Day Ashes Test.
Player’s barred from the field ( for a pre match warmup) due to the Prime Minister’s attendance !
— Razorback (@razorback11111) March 9, 2023
But the drama did not start there. Australians were not happy with the pitch fiasco. Even 48 hours before the Test, it was not decided which strip India and Australia would play on. Steve Smith also called out the pitch tactics bizarre.
I heard teams was not able to warmup bcoz if the event, is it the reason for poor lines of our pacers initially ? Specifically shami https://t.co/itApu8k6Pr
— pinkbowl_owner_stark (@100_52notout) March 9, 2023
Teams not being able to warmup on the ground 🙃 #INDvAUS https://t.co/WxnmDxf55E
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) March 9, 2023
“There’s two prepared. It’s kind of mind-boggling to me when we look at these surfaces and we see what we’ve had – 11 innings in six days or something like that. Spinners have taken the bulk of the wickets and you see how difficult it is to play the spin,” Steve Smith said of the pitch, admitting that he did not know which pitch the match would be played 48 hours before the match.
In the groundstaff’s defence, they never received any instruction from the BCCI on the pitch. Hence, they prepared two pitches — one batting friendly and the other with grass supportive of seamers.
IND AUS Ahmedabad Test: ‘Absolute Farce’, fans lash out as India & Australia players BARRED from entering ground for warm-up, forced to practise outside stadium, Check OUT
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