ngland head coach Chris Silverwood is willing to put the debate over Ahmedabad pitch aside, at least for the moment, and focus on improving in the lead up to the 4th and final Test against India as the visitors are still in with a chance to level the series.
The Pink-ball Test ended inside two days but the pitch debate is still raging on as the pitch for the Pink-ball Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium has left the cricket fraternity divided. Spinners took 28 of the 30 wickets the fell in the day-night fixture which became the shortest completed Test match in the post-war era.
England were bundled out for 112 in their first innings following which Joe Root came up with a special spell of spin-bowling to restrict India to 145. However, England were not able to make good use of the window of opportunity, getting bowled out for 81 in their 2nd innings. India needed just 7.4 overs to wipe off a 49-run target.
Coach Silverwood, speaking to the press on Friday, played down talks of England lodging a formal complaint about the Ahmedabad pitch and called for improvement from his team when it comes to batting on such spinner-friendly wickets.
“First and foremost, just to follow up from what Joe (Root) said yesterday, he got five for 8, but at the same time whatever the pitch did or didn’t do, India ultimately played better than us on that surface, probably pushed us to the extremes of which our players haven’t experienced before,” Silverwood said.
When asked if England were considering a formal complaint to the ICC, the head coach said: “Listen, we will be talking about some things behind the scene obviously, but at the same time, we were really disappointed that we lost with three days left. So, from my point of view now it is heading to the next game and how do we make amends and make sure we come up fighting and draw the series.”
Elaborating further, Silverwood added: “We have spoken to Javagal (Srinath, match referee) but not about the pitch. I think Joe and I gonna sit down for a conversation about it really and see where it goes.
“We have to accept that we have to get better on these pitches, there are places where we could improve. You look at the first innings we had opportunity to score more runs and make the best use of the pitch.”
Probed further if there will be any formal complaint, Silverwood said: “I am not going into that conversation, it is something me and Joe have to talk about.
“I’m not saying we’ve just got to accept things, I’m just saying at this moment in time I’ve not got anything to add. Not in a position to say what we should or shouldn’t do.”
Chris Silverwood’s comments come a day after England captain Joe Root refused to point fingers at the Ahmedabad pitch for the match ending in 2 days. However, Root pointed out that the Pink SG ball was a major factor in the early finish to the Test.
