England's women team coach Mark Robinson slams 'poor' pitches in World T20 after exit

New Delhi: Following their exit from the ICC Women’s World T20, England coach Mark Robinson and captain Charlotte Edwards were today critical of the standard of the pitches used in the showpiece event. [caption id=“attachment_2704158” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Charlotte Edwards, Captain of England and Mark Robinson, Head Coach of England. GettyImages[/caption] Robinson was okay with the wicket in Delhi but came down hard on the pitches used earlier in the competition when England played in Dharamsala, Chennai and Bangalore. “For the good of the game, we have to look at what boundaries we play on. This was a better outfield and better wicket but we have just played on slow and poor wickets and big boundaries every single game. That way it becomes about hitting the ball into corners and scramble for a two. And when the object of the game is to hit the balls into corners and scamper twos, it is not really the product you want to pass it on to the public,” said Robinson after his side’s five-run loss to Australia in the semifinals. On eve of the semifinal, England captain Edwards and her Australian counterpart Meg Lanning had also spoken about the “indifferent pitches” used in the tournament. Talking more about the surfaces used so far, Robinson added: “The challenge you got on slow wickets with 65 yard boundaries, and a lot of small in stature players bowling slowly, I tell you it takes a bit to generate pace. We need to tinker with the boundaries and try to play on best wickets possible to showcase the talent these girls have.” Edwards, sitting alongside Robinson, said the tournament experience was nice barring the wickets used in the games. “Apart from the wickets we played on, we have loved our time in India. We have been looked after really well. It is a shame we are not in the final at Eden Gardens,” said Edwards. She also credited Australia for coming back the way they did after England were cruising at one stage in their chase of 133. They collapsed to 117 for seven from 87 for one. Was it a case of self destruction? “Not at all I think,” said Edwards. “Though we lost our way between overs 11 and 15. It was decent bowling from Australia and we lost crucial wickets. We didn’t bowl well enough but we were comfortable chasing 132 but it wasn’t meant to be.” Winning captain Lanning credited her bowlers for the result. “We didn’t start well in the chase but then the bowlers came really well,” said Lanning adding that they are ready to win their fourth straight World T20 title.