Following an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Aussies who despite their failings managed to topple the complacent Englishmen in the third test of the Ashes, English press has come out with some ludicrous claims hinting that there might be a conspiracy
on the part of the Australian curators.
They think the curators have decided to switch to green pitch at Melbourne to give Australia an advantage and expose the weak side of the England side. To think that a 20 metre strip of dirt would be the cause of such debate and controversy is mind baffling
to say the least.
England batted poorly and Australia came out on top in the third Test. England and the English press need to come to terms with that fact that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 won the test match honestly that they came out on top. The England batsman found the late swing of Mitchell
Johnson a little too hot to handle and the result was catastrophic for England who were basking in glory following their win in the second Test. The English press was rife with reports of how England have become invincible however it is pertinent to say that
all sides have their weaknesses. While the Poms have had time to recuperate and establish themselves as a consistent side, it will take Australia some time to fully recover in the wake of the retirement of their best players.
Some of the headlines in the English press read, ''Tricky Ricky in pitch switch!'' The Daily Mail followed that up with, ''Australia skipper Ponting in bouncer plot for the fourth Test.’’ The Telegraph went ahead with the title, ''Australia change Melbourne
pitch to expose England's weaknesses'' while The Guardian declared it “An Ashes trap.”
The public affairs manager of Cricket Australia complimented the Daily Mail for its creative headline, however went on to say that the pitch was left up to the curators of each venue who design it in accordance with the weather and various other conditions.
The MCC castigated the ‘pitch switch’ allegations claiming them to be baseless. The spokesman went on to say that the pitch was decided upon a week ago before the Third Test began. Hence it was presumptuous on the part of the English press to be claiming that
the pitch had been switched to suit Australia.
The spokesman of the MCC went on to say, “It hasn’t just materialised the moment Ryan Harris took the last wicket yesterday.” Hodgins the curator will in most probability explain that it is common practice to begin work on a pitch a few weeks before the
starting of the match and then it is decided which one of them has progressed the best in that time period. It was learnt that the pitch square in itself comprises of several different types of grass. Some varieties of grass have responded better to the Melbourne
weather than others. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Victoria-c859 coach Shipperd said that the MCG ground has been known to be the best performing wicket in the country.
Andy Flower predicted that Swann might make a comeback in the next Test, however that seems to be unlikely as there appears to be ample grass on the Melbourne wicket to assist the fast bowlers. The conspiracy theories by the British press just goes on to
depict their oxymoronic mindset and how they are quick to leap onto opportunity to give out sensational news that help give their papers more readership. As for those editors looking for another opportunity to make catchy headlines, they might find this very
useful to make another catchy, tacky and sensational headline, “No Beer at the Boxing Day Test.”
P.S http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949, no pun intended.
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