7 Sep / 2012Foreign Terrain

Just before NZ Test series concluded in India, an interesting remark by Dhoni caught my attention– "suggesting that pitches in India should turn more as his spinners toiled very hard to win". Interestingly at end of that series, only once(in 4 Inns)NZ team batted beyond 80th over!. 

I remember Gambhir suggesting the same when he was unable to handle the new ball in Australia earlier this year(Jan 2012). Being an opener it comes as a surprise, as they are the pivot players of their team, and their responsibility is to face the new ball (irrespective of pace or spin, slow or fast surface, high or low bounce) every time they open. They establish a platform for others to launch a decent score.

In last 15years or so, I havent heard any remarks from captains from countries like Aus, SA, ENG, WI, NZ , & even Zimb complain and argue about sub continent pitches being slow and low turners. If they found something that was to be considered, than they would ask the ICC to look into it. Most curators in sub continent are influenced by home captains and their respective boards, and this "law" of dictating pitches has been going on from from beginning(it all starts at club/grade level)  which is not the case in countries mentioned above.

Its time India embrace "variable changes" that they along with other teams always face when playing overseas where conditions are not similar to theirs.

These remarks inspired me to look at teams, especially those playing on faster surface  on how they have performed in sub continent and vice versa.

Here is a look at Test matches played since 2000.

Average 1st Inn Score (1st/2nd bat) & 400 plus Score.

 Average 1st Inn score and Teams score of 400plus 

I have not included Zimbabwe. All data is updated before the NZ tour of India Aug 2012.