EXCLUSIVE | India vs England: Monty Panesar terms 3rd Test match pitch as ‘club cricket pitch’
Rohit Sharma wrapped up things in style as Team India comprehensively won the game by 10 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the high-profile series. The 33-year-old flamboyant opener stepped down the track and smashed it over the deep mid-wicket for a huge six. While the fans expected a tight and tough battle in the pink-ball Test match since the ICC World Test Championship final is at stake, the game ended within two days itself.
Who would have thought that India would bamboozle England’s batting line-up after Joe Root won the toss and opted to bat first. After winning the toss, Joe Root said that they would want to post a big total just like they executed their plans in the first Test. However, Indian spinners namely Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t let the visitors dictate terms.
Apart from Zak Crawley, no other batsman showed any intent with the bat. Crawley looked pretty solid for his 53 with the help of 10 boundaries in the first innings. Axar Patel took 6 wickets while Ravi Ashwin took 3 wickets as England were bowled out for 112 inside 49 overs.
In reply, England stunned India’s batting line-up by restricting them to a paltry score of 145. Rohit Sharma was the pick of the batsmen as he scored 66 before he was dismissed leg before wicket off Jack Leach’s bowling.
Joe Root claimed his first five-wicket haul as he dismantled India’s batting line-up. Jack Leach also bowled really well as he took 4 wickets. In the second innings, England lost the plot as they were bowled out for just 81. Axar Patel once again bagged his five-wicket haul while Ashwin took 4 wickets and went on to become the second-fastest bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan to take 400 Test wickets in 77 matches.
It’s a club cricket pitch: Monty Panesar
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has lashed out at the pitch used for the pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad. The former finger was of the notion that the pitch used for the third Test match was a ‘club cricket pitch’. He also expects that India will produce a better pitch for the fourth Test which will be held at the same venue.
‘It’s a club cricket pitch and India should produce a better pitch for the 4th Test match,” said Monty Panesar while speaking to CricBouncer.
The hosts dominated yet another game at home and England dropped out of the race for the ICC World Test Championship final. On the other hand, Team India should make sure that they don’t lose the Test in the fourth and final Test. However, England may spring a surprise by turning themselves as party poopers in the final game. The fourth Test will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 4.
