Ashwell Prince of the Proteas complains about the irregular bounce on the Newlands field.
On Wednesday, the Indian pace attack grabbed 13 South African wickets, while the Kagiso Rabada-led bowling unit took 10 Indian wickets. As seen here: Mukesh Kumar of India during the first day of the second Test against South Africa on 3 January 2024 at Newlands Cricket Ground. Photographer: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
On any day of a Test match, issues regarding the authenticity of the pitch will be raised if 23 wickets fall in a single day, as happened on the first day of the New Year’s Test at Newlands Stadium on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the India pace attack grabbed 13 Proteas wickets, while the Kagiso Rabada-led bowling unit took 10 Indian wickets.
After the day’s play, SA batting consultant Ashwell Prince emphasized the pitch’s unusual behavior and lauded the Indian quicks for bowling the hosts out for 55 in the first innings.
“We must recognize the Indian bowlers. (Mohammed) Siraj very likely bowled one of his life’s stints. “You get two quality bowlers (Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah) and favorable conditions,” Prince explained.
I’ve never seen a pitch like that on day one before.
“I’ve obviously played a lot of cricket on this ground, and I’m also a coach here, and I’ve never seen a pitch be that quick on day one, usually it speeds up on day two.” “As batters, I don’t think you mind the pace in the wicket, but then you need the bounce in the wicket to be consistent.”
“I think it’s completely different,” Prince said of the first day of the 2011 Test.
“All of that happened in the middle of the game, not on day one.” Shane Watson bowled a great stint, followed by Vernon Philander, who made his debut.
“I wouldn’t say that the wicket that day was doing things I’d never seen, some of the things I’ve seen today I’ve never seen at Newlands before.”
