Rohit calls out ICC for double requirements in score pitches – ‘Hope they hold their ears and eyes open’

Rohit Sharma has referred to as out the ICC and the match referees for what he sees as double requirements at score pitches. After successful the shortest Check within the historical past of the sport, because of a lottery pitch loaded too closely within the favour of the seam bowlers, Rohit was scathing concerning the slander towards pitches in India, which do not go the gap.

“I imply, we noticed what occurred on this match, how the pitch performed and stuff like that,” Rohit stated. “I actually do not thoughts enjoying on pitches like this. So long as everybody retains their mouth shut in India and do not discuss an excessive amount of about Indian pitches, actually.

“Since you come right here [in Test cricket] to problem your self. Sure, it’s harmful. It’s difficult. So, and when folks come to India, it’s once more fairly difficult as properly. Look, if you end up right here to play Check cricket, we speak about Check cricket, the last word prize, Check cricket being the top and stuff like that. I feel it is essential that we additionally stand by it.

“When you find yourself put up towards, a problem like that, you come and face it. That is what occurs in India, however, in India on day one, if the pitch begins turning, folks begin speaking about ‘Puff of mud! Puff of mud!’ There’s a lot crack right here on the pitch. Persons are not taking a look at that.”

Rohit singled out the match referees and a number of the scores pitches obtained in final yr’s World Cup, held in India. “I feel it is essential that we keep impartial in all places we go,” Rohit stated. “Particularly the match referees. You recognize, a few of these match referees have to hold their eye on how they fee pitches. It is fairly essential.

“I nonetheless cannot imagine that the World Cup ultimate pitch was rated beneath common [it was rated average]. A batsman obtained 100 there within the ultimate. How can that be a poor pitch? So these are the issues the ICC, the match referees, they should look into and begin score pitches primarily based on what they see, not primarily based on the international locations. I feel that is fairly essential.

“So I hope they hold their ears open, they hold their eyes open and look into these facets of the sport. Actually, I am all for pitches like this. We need to problem enjoying on pitches like this. We pleasure ourselves enjoying on pitches like this. Uh, however all I need to say is be impartial.”

Within the two-Check sequence that simply concluded, South Africa did not bowl any spin in any respect. India bowled solely 19 overs of it within the first Check, and none within the second innings. That’s what Rohit railed towards, asking why a pitch that activates day is taken into account inferior to at least one that seams.

“Actually, I wish to see how the pitches are rated,” Rohit stated. “I need to see that. No matter… that chart, I’d like to see it, how they fee the pitches, as a result of Mumbai, Bangalore, Cape City, Centurion, all completely different venues, overhead situations are completely different. The pitches deteriorate fairly quick when the solar is thrashing down that arduous on the pitch.

“And in India as properly, we all know that the situations in India will spin definitely, however clearly folks do not prefer it as a result of it spins from day one. However that is not the purpose. If the ball seams from ball one, that is okay, proper, for everybody? That is not truthful. The ball begins spinning from ball one, it needs to be okay, in my view.

“In any other case, you keep impartial, and also you begin score these type of pitches additionally unhealthy, as a result of in order for you the ball solely to seam and never flip, in my view, that’s completely flawed. In order that’s my judgement, that is my opinion on it. I will stick by it as a result of I’ve seen sufficient of cricket now and I’ve seen sufficient of how these match referees and the ICC appears into these scores. I’ve no points in how they need to fee, however keep impartial to all the pieces that you just do.”

Sidharth Monga is a senior author at ESPNcricinfo