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Remarkable! India and South Africa are both bowled out on Day 2 of the 3rd Test, leaving South Africa 278 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining. The visitors have to pull off a miracle if they are to chase the mountain target set by India on the Nagpur’s rank turner.
Cricket fraternity from all across the world took to Twitter and other social media platforms to show their anger on the pitch as South Africa registered their lowest score in a Test innings while playing against India as they were bowled out of paltry 79 runs.
The Proteas are having a horrible time in India in the Test series, struggling against the Indian spinners as the World number one team is falling apart like a house of cards.
The Australians, English and many others are calling Indian pitches ‘cruel’ and ‘horrible’. India’s batting coach, Sanjay Bangar yesterday defended the tuning pitch of Nagpur and said these are the result oriented wickets.
"It's definitely a result-oriented wicket which is equally challenging for both sides. Whichever side adjusts to it (better) will end up with a chance of winning the game.
"When India travel overseas, ball starts seaming from the first over. It's the same for teams coming to subcontinent. Wickets are same for both sides; it is a test of skills. Just as skill against the seaming ball is important, skill against the spinning ball is also equally important.”
"It's a very challenging wicket to score. This has been a low-scoring series and we have to accept that," he said.
On how to approach a turning track, Bangar said: "Patience is a very important virtue here while playing the spinning ball, trusting your defense, getting to pitch, using the depth of the crease or using the feet. You saw all our batsmen played a lot of balls during the innings.”
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who already has 18 wickets in the series, said: “This pitch is one where a batsman has to plan before coming out to bat. The first 4 balls of the day swung it in our favour. I can empathise with Harmer. He bowled for a long time yesterday and had to bowl again today. Not easy for a spinner. I think it's mental. If you get out to a bowler again and again, it will play on your mind.”
“I did not complain when I played in Jo'burg. I was dropped for a year. I am not going to complain for playing here either. I see no reason to complain. Swing, seam and bounce; match over in two days in Trent Bridge. iI don't know what that is about. What is the problem with spin and bounce? It's good even with spin and bounce, isn't it? It is about skills for batsmen to play and counter.”
South Africa’s coach, Russel Domingo, said that the visitors won’t criticize the pitch as the Indian bowlers have bowled brilliantly throughout the series.
“We are a long way behind in the game at the moment. But strange things happen in cricket. We aren't counting ourselves out. We are not going to criticise the pitch right now. To their credit they've bowled exceedingly well. If you're behind in the series it is difficult to criticise the pitch. Tahir was a night watchman, but he looked like a pinch hitter.”
Former Zimbabwe cricketer Mpumelelo Mbangwa had no words on the South Africa collapse, he could just express by saying:
Australia’s swashbuckling batsman Glenn Maxwell looked very angry on the pitch and said:
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden showed his disappointment with the pitch too:
South Africa’s Robin Peterson:
Herschells Gibbs mocked the Australians by reminding them of the 47 all out at Newlands:
Michael Vaughan:
Michael Clarke:
Trent Copeland:
Simon Hughes:
Alviro Petersen:
Aaron Finch:
Tom Moody:
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