India vs England 2021: Dilip Vengsarkar Terms Motera Pitch As A "Bad Advertisement For Test Cricket"

Former Indian batsmen Dilip Vengsarkar has termed the Motera pitch as a “bad advertisement for Test cricket” following the third Test getting over within two days. India dominated the third Test on a large note and went on to win the Test by 10 wickets to take a lead of 2-1 in the series. With the loss, Joe Root’s men have also lost their hopes of making it to the World Test Championship finals.

Axar Patel’s brilliant spell of 11 wickets for 70 runs in the match overall proved to be the turning point and England was bundled out for their lowest Test score of 81 against India in the second innings. This was also the shortest Test in terms of deliveries(842) after the England- West Indies in 1934-35. A lot of cricket experts weren’t happy with the way the pitch turned out.

“People Pay And Come To See good Quality Cricket” – Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar felt that the pitch was a bad advertisement for the test cricket and termed the Motera pitch as an ” inferior wicket”. He felt pity for the crowd he came out to see good quality cricket on the pitch. He stressed the fact that a part-time spinner Joe Root was able to take a fifer in the wicket which doesn’t look good signs. The pitch allowed the pink ball to skid which made it even tougher with the oddball turning.

“There is no doubt that it was an inferior wicket. These types of wickets are bad advertisements for test match cricket. People pay and come to see good quality cricket,” said Dilip Vengsarkar

“Both teams had great players. When you see great batsmen like Joe Root turn into great bowlers (the English captain played 5/8 on his part-time break), there is something wrong with the wicket,” he added.

Vengsarkar Opines England Should Have Fought Hard

Vengsarkar Opined that England lacked the ability to fight and did not show the will to fight. He added that the batsmen had no idea how to play on these pitches and weren’t impressed with the defensive technique of the batsmen. He complained that even the best batsmen in the lineups had lost their minds before putting up a fight.

“England did not have the ability or the will to fight. Most of them got off straight to the ball, which wasn’t spinning. Your defence technique was below average, really bad. They had no idea how to play on such wickets. They were all at sea and had no idea whether to go on the hind foot or the forefoot. It seemed like some of the best batsmen in England got their brains out before they even took the watch,”  Dilip Vengsarkar complained.