'These kinds of surfaces are not good for Test cricket' - Matthew Hayden's critical comments on Indore pitch

Former Australia cricketer and current commentator Matthew Hayden has expressed his thoughts on the pitch at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, for the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

Throughout Australia's tour of India, which began on February 09, the touring party had been critical of the Indian pitches. Many cricket pundits and players have talked about the Indian pitches being extremely "spin-friendly". While the first two games were majorly dominated by spinners, the Indore pitch too acted like a rank-turner and supported only spinners on Day 1 of the third Test.

"No way spinners should come to bowl in the sixth over. This is the reason I don’t like these kinds of surfaces. It shouldn’t be keeping this low and turning so much on Day 1. It doesn’t matter whether Australia wins this Test or India. These kinds of surfaces are not good for Test cricket," the 51-year-old said while speaking on commentary during the proceedings of Day 1 of the third Test.

I don’t think this Test will go for Day 4: Hayden

The former left-handed batter didn't mince his words while openly criticising the appearance and mainly the behaviour of the Indore pitch. Hayden was of the opinion that the normal duration of a Test match is four to five days. It was extremely important for Test playing nations to atleast maintain that time duration because that is how a Test player would be able to prove his potential in cricket.

Test cricket challenges a cricketer's stamina of staying at the crease and in present times, batters not being able to stay more than few overs to face bowlers because of poor pitches is detrimental for the progress of the format.

“You are allowed to have a four-five days Test match. At this pace I feel sorry for the fans, I don’t think this Test will go for Day 4. Here in Indore, the average turn is 4.8 degrees. That's a massive turn, that's the turn you expect on Day 3. You've got to give batters a chance, Ravi (Shastri). Judge your players on their performance in Test match cricket. Day 1 and Day 2 should be about batting," he added.

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