Ponting, Vaughan, Nasser think preparing slow pitch backfired on India
In the recently concluded World Cup, India scored more than 350 runs twice and 400 runs once. On the other hand, Australia crossed 350 three times, but one was against New Zealand and the other two were against the Netherlands and Pakistan.
Khan Mutasim Billah LifeEditor
Posted - 2023-11-20T11:54:28+06:00
Updated - 2023-11-20T23:57:15+06:00
Australia won the World Cup final against India by 6 wickets. Australia won the World Cup for the sixth time with this. The batting of the two teams made the difference in the final. Batting first, India lost wickets at regular intervals and collapsed for 240 runs. In response, despite losing three wickets in the beginning, Australia won with a brilliant century by opener Travis Head.
In the recently concluded World Cup, India scored more than 350 runs twice and 400 runs once. On the other hand, Australia crossed 350 three times, but one was against New Zealand and the other two were against the Netherlands and Pakistan.
Considering Australia's batting performance as a whole, former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that Australia is not a 320-run team, but a 280-run team against a fiercely contested team. Vaughan feels that India's slow pitching strategy for the final against such a team backfired.
“Strategically they are a very clever team. They’ve clearly got a very clever think tank. I don’t think they are a 320 side, they are a 280 side and preparing a pitch like this gave Australia a chance. They did exactly what Pat Cummins said they would, they’ve silenced the crowd. They’ve done it in great fashion. I don’t know anyone who thought the game would be done in 43 overs with Australia coasting to the target. India are still a great side - but the pitch brought Australia into it,” Vaughan said.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and former England captain Nasser Hussain also said that it was India's pitch strategy that backfired in the final. According to Ponting, “It was very, very sub-continental conditions today. A wicket preparation that has probably ended up backfiring on India to be totally fair.”
India was considered one of the contenders for the title without losing a single match in the tournament, but India could not compete in the finals. Former stars have highlighted the pitch in search of the reason for India's failure. As a result of this loss, India's title in the ICC tournament remained elusive after 2013.