Post by Aj_June on Jul 10, 2019 1:39:34 GMT
Former England Test cricketer Mark Butcher has panned the pitches dished up for the Cricket World Cup in the midst of a sluggish batting display from New Zealand.
The Black Caps struggled to 3-155 in the first 40 overs of their semi-final after electing to bat, with India’s quicks causing plenty of trouble bowling cross-seamers into a two-paced pitch.
“Sorry, but pitches have been garbage this tournament,” Butcher, who played 71 Tests for England, posted on Twitter during the Kiwi innings. “Uneven, two-paced, s**t heaps MIGHT give you an exciting 5 overs at the end of a run chase, but you’ve scared everybody off in the previous 95. Crap.”
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With an unused pitch prepared for the semi-final at Old Trafford, plenty of runs were expected. It has been endemic of a tournament which was tipped to see the first 500+ score but has not seen one in excess of 400 and only four above 350.
Former Kiwi wicketkeeper Ian Smith was particularly surprised by how slow the pitch was, given South Africa and Australia each made in excess of 300 at the same venue four days ago.