 "Pitch wars: The other leg of the battle for Nagpur Test was fought on Twitter and how!")
There were a lot of talking points leading up to the third Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur — Amla’s failure to score, Dale Steyn’s injury, and whether Ishant Sharma is Zlatan Ibrahimovic in disguise or not. But the biggest buzz was around what the nature of the pitch would be. [caption id=“attachment_2522626” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] South African batsman J P Duminy plays a shot during the second day of the 3rd test match against Indian in Nagpur on Thusrday. PTI[/caption] As the match started, so did the hue and cry over the turning track. The battle for the third Test between India and South Africa at VCA stadium quickly turned into a Twitter battle over the ‘diabolical’ pitch. In reply to India’s 215, South Africa slumped to a record low total of 79, courtesy Ashwin and Jadeja. And all hell broke lose on Twitter. Many cricketers and cricket fans tweeted out their displeasure over yet another turning track. Cricket enthusiasts were up in arms about the track — “this isn’t fair!”, “not a balanced contest between the bat and bowl!”, “The pitch is hampering Test cricket!”, “the pitch is the reason for rising intolerance in the country!” — the outcry was of that sort. As ‘Tweeple’ are experts on everything, including cricket, they did have a word or two about the treacherous track. And just like any issue on Twitter, it soon became a tweet-off between two sides. Is it the #DemonNagpur track or is it just bad batting against spin bowling? It seems Michael Clarke and Michael Vaughn were of the same mind, but not without opposition.
Good cricket = Something for everyone. Swing and seam early, good for batting, spin day 3,4,5. Someone wins and someone loses
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) November 26, 2015
@MClarke23 Those pitches have become a dream. I don't like what we are seeing in Nagpur, and I didn't like what we saw at Perth.
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 26, 2015
We are seeing too many underprepared pitches that last only 3 days Max...!! TEST Cricket is over 5 days for a reason ... #ICC
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 26, 2015
This Nagpur pitch has taken the idea of home advantage to a level where it's no longer a contest between bat and ball
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 26, 2015
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSpin mayhem in Nagpur. All I can say is Indian batsmen better be prepared for some chin music when they tour South Africa next...
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 26, 2015
Friend: Which was the most bizarre cricket pitch in recent times? New York or Nagpur? Me: Stop comparing apples and oranges.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 26, 2015
Even you could spin a web there at the moment... https://t.co/dPpC14EZhb
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) November 26, 2015
South Africa can't play spin but this is a pretty disgraceful wicket. More like Juhu beach than a test wicket. Agree?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 26, 2015
Test Cricket needs a championship more than ever now,so when poor pitches are prepared the Home team gets docked points .. #ICC
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 26, 2015
This pitch in Nagpur is nothing short of diabolical for Test Cricket ... Telling me that was prepared to last 5 days..!!!!!!!!!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 26, 2015
Nagpur,Mohali,Ashes Trent Bridge ,Perth last week , Abu Dhabi... #NuffSaid https://t.co/g0MohNd7Nn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 26, 2015
However, Many fans didn’t take Vaughn and Clarke’s pitch rhetoric kindly. Even Herschelle Gibbs took a stance against Vaughn and Clarke’s sentiments.
@MClarke23 why not something completely different pup? No test should ever be the same just for the sake of lasting 5 days..
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 26, 2015
Good point made..aus didn't complain when they got 47 at newlands.. https://t.co/U0eJD00wCj
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 26, 2015
Bloody cricket elitists. Galle’s been producing filthy turners for years. I guess SL is too small to be the subject of your frothing outrage
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) November 26, 2015
36/1 in the last 4 overs. Diabolical wicket.
— Shrikant (@HomerOpines) November 26, 2015
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