Nathan Lyon Slams Motera Pitch Critics, Says ‘Everyone Seems to Start Crying’ When The Ball Starts Spinning

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon said he is baffled by the criticism over the spin-friendly nature of the Ahmedabad pitch used for the Pink-ball Test between India and England in Ahmedabad. Lyon believed that when a match is played on seaming wickets and when teams get bowled out for very low scores, nobody complains. The Aussie added that the moment the pitch starts turning, the entire world starts ‘crying’.

Lyon further said he was up all night watching the Test and enjoyed the spinners dominating the proceedings at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The Motera track received a lot of criticism from cricketing giants, including former skippers Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, after England were bowled out for 112 and 81 during their 10-wicket loss in the third Test against India on Thursday.

“We play on seaming wickets around the world and get bowled out for 47, 60. Nobody ever says a thing (about the pitch). But as soon as it starts spinning, everyone in the world seems to start crying about it,” Lyon was quoted as saying by ‘The West Australian’.

“I don’t get it. I’m all for it, it was entertaining.I was up all night watching it. It was absolutely brilliant. I’m thinking about bringing that curator out to the SCG,” he said.

When Pragyan Ojha Batted For Spinners

Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha also came out with his opinion and asked people to talk about the nature of the pitch on which Stuart Broad took 8 wickets. Ojha also stated that people would be fine if a match finishes within 2 to 3 days on a seaming wicket. He concluded by stating that the moment the pitch starts turning, people state that the wicket is not one ideal for Test cricket.

“Please talk about Stuart Broad’s 8 for 15, the wicket that he was bowling on in that match. What kind of a wicket was that? If the Test finishes in 2 or 3 days in seaming conditions where there is grass that’s absolutely fine. But the moment it starts turning and bouncing, that’s when you say it’s not a 5-day wicket or a Test-match wicket,” said Ojha in a chat with Sports Today.

R Ashwin Defines A Good Pitch

Meanwhile, India spinner Ashwin, speaking to the press on Saturday, said the pitch debate is getting out of hand and that it needed to stop. Ashwin responded to an English scribe who asked him if he considered the Ahmedabad pitch a ‘good one’ by posing a return question.

“Who defines what a good surface is? The seam on the first day, then bat well in the next couple of days and spin on the last two days, come on, who makes these rules?” Ashwin said.

“We need to get over it and if you are asking whether the pitch in the third Test was a good surface, I do not see any players of England coming out and complaining.”