The first Test between Australia and South Africa ended within just two days at The Gabba in Brisbane as the Aussies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. South African skipper Dean Elgar wasn’t satisfied with the pitch and even questioned the umpires if it was ‘unsafe’. He revealed that the umpires ignored the consequences of batting on the pitch.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins replied to Elgar’s comment and said that it was a difficult pitch to bat on. After this victory, Australia inched a step closer to sealing the World Test Championship finals spot.
The Aussies are currently on top of the points table, and a series win against the Proteas will strengthen their case.
“It was fine. There were no balls jumping off a length or anything like that. It was certainly tricky — two days probably isn’t ideal. There was a lot of sideways movement and today a little bit of up and down bounce as well. Personally, I don’t mind if the groundsmen err on the side of a greener surface,” Pat Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
Say what you want about the Gabba wicket, I would tune in to watch blokes bowl rockets on a fast, bouncy green seamer everyday of the week. Enthralling to watch, cricket needs ball dominating bat matches like that every so often. #GabbaTest #AUSvsSA
— Ben Cutting (@Cuttsy31) December 18, 2022
Thirty-four wickets fell within just six sessions in two days, which clearly indicated that the pitch was not at all batter friendly. He further argued that grounds like the one created at the Gabba don’t help Test cricket which needs to gain more worldwide popularity.
Australia needed just 33 runs in their final innings to win the game. But their chase wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be, as Kagiso Rabada picked up four wickets.
“I know the game was dead and buried” – Dean Elgar
South African skipper Dean Elgar revealed that he asked umpires when the wicket gets potentially unsafe after Kagiso Rabada got the better of Travis Head.
“I did ask the umpires (about the pitch). When ‘KG’ (Kagiso Rabada) got (Travis) Head out down leg (on Sunday), I said, ‘How long does it go on for before it potentially is unsafe?’ Then (Anrich) Nortje was bowling those short ones that were flying over our heads.
“I know the game was dead and buried. It was never to change or put a halt to the game, but that was where the umpires’ discretion comes into play; not us as players,” Elgar revealed during the post-match press conference.
The second Test between Australia and South Africa is scheduled to commence on Boxing Day (December 26) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
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