| Sports |
|
Fraser defends Oval pitch |
Saturday 22nd August 2009: Former England fast bowler Angus Fraser has come to the defence of the Oval's chief curator, Bill Gordon, who has had to put up with accusations of pitch doctoring after Australia were skittled on day two of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test.
Replying to England's first innings effort of 332 all out, the Aussies lost eight wickets in Friday's second session before succumbing to 160 all out as seamer Stuart Broad (five for 37) and spinner Graeme Swann (four for 38) cashed in. The tourists hit back with three wickets late in the day, but face an uphill battle to stave off defeat in the series decider.
A loss will leave Ricky Ponting, one of Australia's greatest players and most successful leaders, just the second captain in 132 years of Ashes history to lose two series in England. The other was Australia's first touring captain, Billy Murdoch, well over 100 years ago.
"A combination of the pitch and match situation would have increased the levels of anxiety among Australia's batsmen, especially after a couple of deliveries in James Anderson's opening over yesterday broke through the top," Fraser wrote in The Independent.
"Stuart Broad bowled beautifully but the batting of Ricky Ponting's side was insipid because no deliveries reared sharply off a good length and flew at a batsman's throat.
"Yes, the odd ball stopped slightly but the change in pace was no greater than a well disguised slower ball."
Fraser questioned Australia's decision to exclude off-spinner Nathan Hauritz from their starting XI and, regardless of the occasional inconsistency in bounce, was pleased with the track prepared by Gordon.
-Cricket365 |
|
| |
 |
| |
 E-mail |
| |
views[1] |
|
|
| |
|
|
