Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has said that the visitors can no longer use the Ahmedabad pitch’s quality as an excuse after they were routed by 10 wickets by India in the third Test match in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.
Joe Root-led England was soundly defeated inside two days as they were bowled out for 112 and 81 in their two innings. The 81 was their lowest Test total against India and in India. Meanwhile, India scored 145 in their first innings, with Rohit Sharma making 66 and Joe Root taking 5/8, his maiden Test fifer.
There Was Nothing Dangerous About This Wicket-Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen was not happy with some of the former England players and fans blaming the pitches for the England team’s two recent losses against India. Former England captains, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, and Alastair Cook all had opined that the condition of the pitch contributed to the tourists’ downfall.
India had won by 317 runs in the second Test in Chennai, after suffering a 227-run defeat in the first Test match.
“If England had won this Test match there is no way we would be sitting here hammering the wicket. There was nothing dangerous about this wicket. That is what the ICC look at. If the wicket is dangerous that is when they decide to deduct points. Yes there was definitely an overriding ball wins over bat in this Test match but it was a one-off. You are in the sub-continent. When you go to Perth, what happens there?” said Kevin Pietersen to talkSPORT.
With India taking a 2-1 series lead in the four-match series, the England team’s hopes of playing in the final of the ICC World Test Championship have ended, as they had to win the series by a margin of 3-1. India, on the other hand, has to win or draw the fourth Test, also to be played in Ahmedabad on March 4, and avoid a 2-2 draw to qualify for the final of the WTC against New Zealand.
In total, 17 wickets fell on a chaotic second day with India spinner Axar Patel representing England’s torturer in chief, ending the match with figures of 11 for 70 runs while Ravi Ashwin marked the occasion with his 400th Test wicket.
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