Herschelle Gibbs lauds the BCCI for their hospitability regarding pitches for India Tests

It’s not much of a surprise that pitches in the sub-continent provide assistance to the spinners. It’s the same in India as well where the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja have weaved their magic. The decks break as the games progress and by the time, the last day starts, it mostly converts into a spitting cobra, making things tough for the batters.

However, of late, the tracks in India have started to be a tad different that what it used to be even a couple of years ago. India are currently playing a three-match Test series versus South Africa and the fast bowlers have had their say. Mohammed Shami picked up a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the second Test at the MCA Stadium in Pune and scripted India’s triumph.

The speedster is currently the third highest wicket-taker in the series after Ashwin and Jadeja. The spin-duo has a combined tally of 24 wickets out of the 40 Proteas scalps in the series thus far. Umesh Yadav has also picked six wickets in the second encounter. Ishant Sharma had a couple of poor outings though as he could only manage two wickets in Pune and Vizag at an average of 62.50.

Gibbs heaps praises

The Delhi pacer has been rested for the third Test at the JSCA International Complex Stadium in Ranchi. Shahbaz Nadeem, the left-arm spinner, was given his maiden international cap bearing in mind the nature of the strip. After losing the toss and being put in to field first, the Proteas pacers started in a handsome manner. Kagiso Rabada got Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Then it was the turn of Anrich Nortje to get rid of Indian skipper Virat Kohli. It meant that the deck had something to offer for the pacers to start with. In the meantime, Herschelle Gibbs was impressed with BCCI’s hospitable approach. He lauded the world’s richest cricket board for the pitches on the ongoing tour that hasn’t been rank turners by any means.

However, he said that the strip in Ranchi would turn a bit more than Pune and Vizag. He took to Twitter and wrote, “@BCCI have been very hospitable with conditions this whole test series. This wicket looks like it will turn a bit more than the previous two. #INDvSA.”

Here is Herschelle Gibbs’ tweet

@BCCI have been very hospitable with conditions this whole test series. This wicket looks like it will turn a bit more than the previous two. #INDvSA

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) October 19, 2019

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