Fans react as Aussie bowlers question merits of Gabba pitch

Fans have reacted strongly after two Australian bowlers had the same complaint after day one of the second Test at the Gabba.

After an unexpectedly difficult day in the field, Australia’s bowlers had some complaints about conditions in the first Test, and it’s fair to say they didn’t go down well with fans.

For starters, fierce debate is continuing to unfold over the merits of day-night Test cricket, considering it is such an innovation for the sport.

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Some purists regularly slam the concept, which produces vastly different conditions to regular Test matches and also involves the new pink ball.

Considering the crowds and TV ratings, it is clear the concept isn’t going anywhere, but Australian bowlers Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon did question the Gabba pitch produced for the second Test.

Everything was going swimmingly when the Aussies had reduced the West Indies to 5-64 after the tourists won the toss and batted.

Joshua Da Silva played an impressive rearguard knock at the Gabba. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Windies fought back impressively, however, with Kavem Hodge (71) and Joshua Da Silva (79) compiling a 149-run stand to drag their side back into the match at 8-266 at stumps.

The pink ball Test match is typically held at Adelaide Oval, with this only the third edition at the Gabba and first since 2019.

Starc, who reached the rare 350-wicket milestone on day one and finished the day with 4-68, questioned the conditions in Brisbane.

“We know the pink balls get soft at some point and I think that the firmness of this wicket, it started to go soft about the 11th over,” he said.

“The ball is what it is. I think it now comes down to the wicket which I think Adelaide’s got right because of the ball and we know it goes soft at certain stages depending on the wicket.

Mitchell Starc (left) and the Aussies seemed pretty happy when they were taking wickets. (Photo by Pat Hoelscher / AFP)

“I think there’s a certain cushion to what they make in Adelaide and just why it’s been such a good Test match, the pink ball Test in Adelaide.

“So I think this week is pretty similar to the game we played Pakistan here with the pink ball (in 2016). In that game as well it went soft very early.

“There was a lot of dead patches where because it was so soft, it was hard to score.

“There wasn’t much in it for the bowlers and I think Pakistan got about 450 chasing 490 in the fourth innings.

“So it feels a bit like a similar wicket where it’s probably a bit too firm for the pink ball.

“I think it’d be a fantastic red ball wicket but probably too firm for the pink ball.”

Nathan Lyon and the Gabba pitch. Photos: Twitter and Getty Images

Lyon offered similar sentiments when he had a chat with the ABC at the end of day one.

“I’ll try not to get in trouble,” Lyon said. “This is just my opinion.

“The right venue for pink ball Tests is Adelaide Oval and that’s because (of) the contest between bat and ball and the grass left on the wicket.

“This wicket, I think it would be a brilliant red-ball wicket.”

The comments drew some interesting responses from cricket fans, many of which had a consistent theme.

“You looked pretty happy with it when they were 5-64,” was one reply.

Very poor take from Lyon. Lost one day of cricket for the summer and is moaning. Weak as piss really. Try being a Windies player and how up against they are. Loved their fight today. Great TEST cricket.

— Vanders Roy (@vanders_rob) January 25, 2024

“Is it just me, or do players always complain about pitches these days? We had them 5/64, the wicket at the Gabba always flattens out after lunch and by end of day 1 is great to bat on. 8 wickets, 266 runs, I’d say that’s a great contest between bat and ball,” wrote another.

“One day of Test cricket doesn’t go Australia’s way and they complain …. what an absolute surprise,” added a third.

It all adds a little more pressure and intrigue heading into day two, with some expected inclement weather also likely to present another twist to conditions.