Cricket great Ian Healy calls for ICC to step in after ‘pathetic’ act from pitch curators in India

Australian cricket great Ian Healy has launched a scathing attack against Indian cricket authorities, for seemingly allowing pitch curators in Nagpur to disrupt Australia’s plans to practice at VCA Stadium.

The Aussies’ hopes of winning a first series in India in 19 years got off to a disastrous start last week, as they were thrashed by an innings and 132 runs after crumbling to their lowest ever total in the country.

With the Test over within three days, Australia were granted permission to use the pitch to practice on what was effectively a day four surface. 

Ian Healy slammed Indian cricket authorities for scuppering Australia’s practice plans

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, however, the plans were derailed once curators at the ground watered the wicket and the stadium nets.

As a result, Australia were forced to cancel their session, a development Healy described as ‘pathetic’ on SENQ Breakfast on Monday.

‘I think it’s a pathetic effort,’ the former wicket-keeper said.

‘It’s really embarrassing the scuppering of our plans to get some practice sessions on that Nagpur wicket.

Australia had hoped to practice at VCA Stadium on Monday morning, but the at the ground watered the wicket and the stadium nets

The Aussies crumbled to 91 all out in their second innings on Saturday, losing the first Test by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur

‘That’s not good, that’s just not good for cricket.’

Healy also called for the International Cricket Council to step in to ensure the requests of touring teams were accommodated whenever possible. 

‘The ICC needs to step in here and say: “Our nations need to trust each other must better, if you request certain conditions to practice and prepare on, you must get them”,’ he continued.

‘For them to water the wicket unceremoniously when it was requested for practice is horrible and that has to improve.’

Australia’s stay in Nagpur has been blighted by controversy over the pitch, with curators accused of doctoring the deck at VCA Stadium in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar series opener.

A number of officials in Indian uniforms – including head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, at times – watched on as staff selectively watered and mowed targeted areas of the pitch.

India appeared to be trying to capitalise on Australia’s left-hander heavy batting line-up, which duly crumbled to 177 and 91 all out in both innings.

India, on the other hand, seemed relatively untroubled during their dig, racking up 400 runs. 

The pitch in Nagpur was at the centre of controversy last week, when it appeared ground staff doctored the surface to target Australia’s left-handers 

Pat Cummins has admitted that the Nagpur wicket was not unplayable in India

Sharma marked his first Test in India as captain with a ton, while star-all rounder Ravindra Jadeja contributed with 72 runs and spinner Axar Patel added 84 precious runs.

Speaking after the match, Australia captain Pat Cummins conceded the surface was far from unplayable.

‘The game moves pretty quickly at times over here in India and you’ve got to manage the tempos, India played really well and Rohit showed his class,’ he said.

‘That first innings, the wicket spun but it wasn’t unplayable. We would’ve loved to have got another 100 or so runs and put pressure on their batting innings.’

The second Test begins in Delhi on Friday morning (AEDT), while the third Test has been moved from HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala to Indore following concerns over the outfield.