Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar. Image-Twitter.

Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has said that International Cricket Council (ICC) should dock points if the home side dished out the same kind of pitch that we saw during the third Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The third Test between India and England- a pink-ball affair- proved to be a controversial one as it completed in just under two days to become the shortest Test since World War II.

Monty Panesar, India
Ollie Pope of England (BCCI)

With the pitch offering excessive assistance to the spinners, several former England cricketers have lambasted the track with the likes of Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd terming it as ‘rubbish’, ‘lottery’ and a ‘bad advertisement for Test cricket’

Vaughan and Panesar had also called for the ICC to take action against the pitch and the latest to join the bandwagon is Monty Panesar, who has urged the ICC to dock points, should we see a similar kind of track in the next Test.

“I think if the next Test match is the same, then yes, the ICC should dock points. Everyone is delighted that cricket has now got the biggest stadium in the world now. At least the curator should have produced a good wicket, even if it’s a turning wicket, everyone was complaining about Chennai, this was even worse.” said Monty Panesar to ANI.

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Narendra Modi, Motera, Virat Kohli
Motera Stadium [Image- Twitter]
Panesar also added that a grand stadium like the one in Ahmedabad deserved a better contest between bat and ball.

The former cricketer went on to compare the Test match with club cricket in England.

“When we play club cricket, we will bowl a team out for under 100, and then it’s difficult to chase because it’s a turning pitch. I think being the biggest stadium in the world, Narendra Modi Stadium deserves longer Test matches because people want to see how good the wicket is, you look at the stadium, beautiful views, and what an amazing stadium India has produced. It does not deserve a two-day Test match that’s under 900 balls, you might just play on a park if you are going to play this type of cricket.” added Monty Panesar.

According to Panesar, even if India is last 3-3.5 days. He also reminded the Indians that overseas batsmen like Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen,n have got runs on turning tracks of India.

“India will probably produce a turning pitch, at least it should last for three days. The Indian people are saying England batsmen cannot play spin very well, if you take that into account, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have scored runs here, Cook has got a record as good as Matthew Hayden in India.” Monty Panesar signed off.

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The 4th and final Test between India and England will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad between March 04-08 and if reports are to be believed, the curator is set to dish out a batting-friendly surface.

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