SCG deck labeled ‘stinker’ by Usman Khawaja as all eyes on ICC to rule powderkeg pitch

After spending a decade being lambasted for purring like a tabby cat, the SCG deck is now under fire for roaring like a Bengal tiger, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

After spending a decade being lambasted for purring like a tabby cat, the SCG deck is now under fire for roaring like a Bengal tiger.

The pitch polarised the two teams – Usman Khawaja branded it “a stinker’’ on ABC radio, Indian coach Gautam Gambhir called it perfect for Test cricket, while Pat Cummins sat somewhere in between but more on Gambhir’s side than Khawaja’s.

Now all eyes will be on the International Cricket Council to see whether they deem the SCG powderkeg acceptable.

The rating that will be handed down by match referee Andy Pycroft could have wider-implications as an adverse finding will defer curators from being as creative and bold as SCG groundsman Adam Lewis tried to be for this Test.

India coach Gautam Gambhir (c) was happy with the SCG deck. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Normally the visiting officials are the one rocked by seaming, bouncing, unpredictable decks but Gambhir, strong-willed and always his own man, feels Test cricket needs temperamental decks like this to guarantee its future.

“There’s been some really nice wickets,’’ Gambhir said. “I think it’s good for Test cricket. There was enough for the bowlers as well, there was enough for the batters.

“But that is what’s going to keep Test cricket alive. This was not the typical Sydney wicket what we normally are used to. Or what we’ve seen in the past as well. But then, this is how Test cricket needs to be played. Result orientated wickets.’’

Usman Khawaja is knocked over by Mohammed Siraj on day four of the fourth Test. Picture: Martin Keep/AFP

To give some idea of how treacherous this deck was, this Sydney Test is the first completed Test at the SCG since 1888 where neither team has passed 200 in the four innings of the match.

Australian captain Cummins said he’d rather a pitch that was a little over-spiced than some of the dull back-breaking pitches he’s bowled on in Sydney over the past decade.

“It’s very different to any other SCG pitch I’ve seen,’’ Cummins said.

“It had a lot of bounce and obviously a lot of grass and seam movement. I probably prefer that to a flat, slow one that fizzled out to a draw. But it was definitely spicy. I think it’s the same for both teams.

“I really like that the groundsman has been trying to put a lot of life into it. At times it’s probably doing a lot, but I think I’d much prefer Test cricket to be like that, rather than filled out to boring draws.’’

Pat Cummins was happy with a livelier SCG deck. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Opening batsman Khawaja perhaps spoke on behalf of all batters in the match when he described the pitch as a “stinker” when asked about it on ABC radio.

Khawaja top scored for Australia with 41 in the second innings and only two players – Beau Webster and Rishabh Pant – passed 50 in the Test.

At least Khawaja and the Australian batsmen can rest assured they won’t be judged by selectors on traditional metrics of what kind of scores would constitute as pass marks.

ABC broadcaster Jim Maxwell said he had never seen a five-Test series in Australia played on pitches offering so much for bowlers in his entire career.

Cummins praised Khawaja for the way he held the tricky final run-chase together to hand Australia a drought-breaking Border-Gavaskar triumph.

“I felt very comfortable when he was out there batting. He looked so assured. I think Uzzie, and we said it with Nathan McSweeney (dropped opener) as well. It literally doesn’t get any harder than opening the batting on these pitches against a quality bowling attack,” Cummins said.

“It’s the hardest job in cricket. I thought he looked really good at times. Sometimes he got some really good balls. He looks like he’s batting as well as any other time.

“Probably overall he didn’t get the runs he would have liked but then you get innings like today where he just shows his maturity and experience is so valuable.

“Who knows (how long Khawaja goes on for)? I know he always says age is just a number. He took some good catches in the field as well, and he’s still moving alright.

“There’s no end date from our end. As long as he’s still scoring some runs.”