‘Koi Gabba ki Pitch ko kharab nahin bataega’ – Twitter fuming at cricket pundits for not criticizing Gabba pitch as AUS vs SA Test ends inside two days
Steve Smith, Gabba Pitch (Image Credit: Twitter)
The most anticipated first Test between Australia and South Africa turned out to be a dull affair as the game ended in two days. For the first time since the Sandpaper Gate in 2018, both teams played each other in the red-ball format. As per the tradition in Australian cricket, the Kangaroos played the first Test at The Gabba, Brisbane. The home team won the toss and decided to bowl first.
They reaped the rewards on the green top, which hasn’t been seen at the venue for the last few years. Meanwhile, the bowlers managed to restrict the Proteas to 152 runs. The only bright spot in the visitors’ innings was the 98-run partnership between skipper Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreyne. Apart from this, the batters struggled badly. Talking about Aussie bowling, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each.
On the other hand, skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took two each. In reply, the Kangaroos also faced difficulties on the wicket. They were bowled out for 218 runs. They had lost three wickets for 27 runs. At this stage, the likes of Travis Head and former skipper Steve Smith stitched a partnership of 117 runs for the fourth wicket. However, after the wicket of the latter, the team couldn’t build any more partnership of substance.
For the Dean Elgar-led side, Kagiso Rabada picked four wickets while Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi took three, two, and one wicket respectively.
South Africa tumbles and Australia managed to win
After trailing by 66 runs, the visitors needed to bat well and impose a big target against the opposition. However, they were bowled out for 99 runs. This time around, none of the batters scored a fifty with Khaya Zondo scoring 36. Eight batters failed to cross the double-digit mark. Now, the World Number Test side got the target of 34 runs. After huffing and puffing as they lost four wickets, they won the game by six wickets.
This is how Twitter reacted
https://twitter.com/Anubhavshahi48/status/1604368656015560704?s=20&t=R51LsHdLHRTcsEjO27NnUQ
If a test match ended inside two days because the ball was turning square, all hell would break loose, the pitch would be reported… when it seams so much that nobody can bat, it’s okay!#AUSvsSA
— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) December 18, 2022
15 wickets have fallen in a day in Brisbane,this pitch is making the game too lopsided in favour of seamers.
Said no one ever,as long as such track isn't in subcontinent.#AUSvsSA #CricketTwitter
— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) December 17, 2022
#AUSvsSA match at Gabba is going to finish on 2nd day inside 150 overs. Everyone will praise the performances of the fast bowlers from the both sides on the green pitch. Next year when Aus will come to India, they'll start ranting about the spinning tracks. @bhogleharsha#WTC23 pic.twitter.com/PCd0djEWqG
— Vivek Dhiman (@vivekdhiman) December 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/elitecynic/status/1604342862115704832?s=20&t=R51LsHdLHRTcsEjO27NnUQ
https://twitter.com/Jay_Prajapati07/status/1604352730494996480?s=20&t=R51LsHdLHRTcsEjO27NnUQ
Presumably the Brisbane pitch will be given a “poor” rating from the ICC match referee given that it’s only day 2 of the #AUSvsSA Test and the game will be over today?
No? Thought not.
— WG RumblePants (@WG_RumblePants) December 18, 2022
When test matches end in 2-3 days in India, Pundits be like ‘Indian pitches are a dust bowl which spin square’,
But the ‘GABA pitch for #AUSvsSA is a competitive pitch where SA batsman have failed to apply themselves’
Hypocrisy at its best!!!! #Gabba— Shreyank Perla (@shreyank_perla) December 18, 2022
Double standard of @ICC , What do you think @bhogleharsha Sir #AUSvsSA pic.twitter.com/TtpyBblWKR
— KD (@kdyaadav0) December 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/AVSUBASH/status/1604349780209315840?s=20&t=R51LsHdLHRTcsEjO27NnUQ
