"Mockery Of Test Cricket": India Legend's Scathing Verdict On Indore Pitch

The wicket nature of the 22-yard strip at the Holkar Stadium where deliveries started turning square from the word go has reignited the debate of the India dishing out under-prepared surfaces for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy games against Australia.The ICC match referee Chris Broad is almost certain to take cognisance of the diabolical nature of the track and it won't be surprising that after Nagpur and Delhi which were rated "average", the track for the ongoing Test match could well get a "Below Average" rating. India were all out for 109 in just over a session while Australia managed to crawl to 156 for 4 as 14 wickets fell by the end of the day's play.

All teams like to have conditions of their choice at home but what should be the extent of that home advantage? Another Test is set to be completed inside three days. Is that good for the game? And did the curators get enough time prepare the surface with announcement of the game being shifted from Dharamsala coming only two weeks ago? Could have the BCCI have managed the last minute change of venue better? These are some of the lingering questions that deserve an answer.

All the Test matches of the series so far have attracted healthy crowds but will the fans continue to flock the venues if the standard of pitches is not addressed? Matthew Kuhnemann had India skipper Rohit Sharma stumped in the sixth over of the game with the ball turning a proverbial mile.

The degree of turn was a massive 8.3. Nathan Lyon got one to dart back in from way outside the off stump and that too with ball keeping low. Ut left Cheteshwar Pujara surprised. That turned 6.8 degrees.

Both Rohit and Pujara could have used discretion with their shot selection but to have ball turning at right