Ravi Shastri compares pitches provided to India and Australia in South Africa

Published - 05 Mar 2018, 08:47 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:49 PM

Head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri believes that there lies a stark difference between the surfaces provided by South Africa against India and Australia.

Shastri termed the difference between the two surfaces as chalk and cheese. The coach sang praises of the Indian team for their performance in the Jo’Burg Test, which caused the change in fortunes for them.

Durban’s surface for Australia was largely benign as opposed to the landmine surfaces presented to India at Jo’Burg and Cape Town.

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Faf du Plessis, Australia, South Africa, Durban, Test — Josh Hazlewood wraps up the Test with de Kock’s wicket. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“It is one of the toughest tours and if you look at the pitches that were on offer to us, it is chalk and cheese when you look at the track that has been given to Australia,” suggested Ravi Shastri according to Anandabazaar Patrika.

“When you look at the track now in Durban and looked at the tracks we played on, they look like chalk and cheese. And on those tracks, to perform the way they did, I think, was simply outstanding,” added Shastri.

Unlike South Africa during their 2015 tour to India, India never complained about the nature of the surfaces presented to them in the Rainbow Nation. In fact, the men in blue took the Protean challenge head on and came out with flying colours.

“I have always said that we don’t want a team that would complain about the tracks. We will play on whatever is on offer. And we will try and get the right combination to counter that,” revealed the 55-year old.

Jo’burg win- one of the most courageous and bravest

South African batsman Dean Elgar (back) is treated after being hit by a ball delivery bounce during the third day of the third test match between South Africa and India at Wanderers cricket ground on January 26, 2018, in Johannesburg. / AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)

For Ravi Shastri, the win at Wanderers is one of the folklore. Shastri tagged the win at Jo’burg as ‘one of the most courageous and bravest batting performances ever’.

“Not only in the history of Indian cricket but in the history of the game. Absolutely no question about that because the conditions were such and with the kind of attack they had, it needed a lot of guts, courage, application, determination to do what they did. And above all, belief. And there is a reason why I give them credit,” concluded the voice of Indian commentary.

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India National Cricket Team Ravi Shastri South Africa National Cricket Team