Tamil Nadu coach Woorkeri V Raman says he's a bit puzzled whenever he hears a cricket track being described as a 'sporting pitch' and wants to know what is exactly meant by this often-used term.
"I want somebody to explain to me what exactly a sporting wicket is," Raman said at the Wankhede Stadium here ahead of TN's five-day final against defending champions Karnataka starting tomorrow.
"If you are talking about a well-prepared seaming track, why should there be any fuss with a well-prepared turning track? Somebody must answer that for me," said the former India opener.
He also put it wryly that no one seems to be worried when in Test matches hosted in India the ball starts turning from very early on in the game, but when it happens in domestic cricket then questions are asked why it is so.
"Anyway, at the end of the day, when we play international cricket (at home), the ball starts spinning from the second over, in a five-day game. On the other hand, if you look at it, we lose wickets to spinners like Moeen Ali (of England) at the top-level. You need skills to play on all surfaces.
"Where it all gets skewed is people suddenly use the phrase 'sporting pitch' according to their convenience or their individual perception. That's when it all goes awry," he explained further.
"I am not being critical of any individual here. I will anyway prefer pitches with bounce all the four days. I am not talking about lateral movement. If there is enough bounce at large right through the duration of the game, you will see good bowlers succeed.
