BRISBANE: Former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori acknowledged pitch conditions at the Gabba were difficult for batters, but felt the quality of Australian and South African bowlers played a significant role in the opening test which was completed in two days.
The Brisbane ground has been given a “below average” rating by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the hosts won the game by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead with three days to spare.
However, Vettori, who took over as Australia assistant coach in May this year, said he had seen “worse” pitches.
“It was just really tough conditions and once in a while, as a bowling group, you don’t mind,” Vettori said, as quoted by ‘Zero Wicket’ on Wednesday.
“Just because of the quality of those bowling attacks, they’ve probably embellished it a bit. So you wouldn’t want to play it every day, but I think for the occasional Test match it’s not the worst thing,” he added. .
ICC Elite Match Umpire Panel member Richie Richardson noted that Gabba’s pitch was “too much in favor of the bowlers”.
“There was extra bounce and the occasional excessive seam movement. The odd delivery also remained weak on day two, which made it very difficult for hitters to partner up,” Richardson had noted a day after the end of the match.
South Africa Captain Dean Elgar also criticized the green top saying, “I don’t think it’s a very good test wicket.”
Vettori, 43, a 113 Test veteran, said when players like Travis Head, Steve Smith and Kyle Verreynne of South Africa applied themselves, they were able to score points.
Head and Smith scored 92 and 36 respectively in the first innings, while Verreynne hit a patient 64.
“It was definitely amplified because of the level of bowling. People are saying those two attacks are potentially the best in the world.
“And the wicket did a lot. But I think we saw through the sleeves of Travis Head, Steve Smith and (Kyle) Verreynne if you went in you could score on it,” Vettori added.
The second Test against South Africa kicks off on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Brisbane ground has been given a “below average” rating by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the hosts won the game by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead with three days to spare.
However, Vettori, who took over as Australia assistant coach in May this year, said he had seen “worse” pitches.
“It was just really tough conditions and once in a while, as a bowling group, you don’t mind,” Vettori said, as quoted by ‘Zero Wicket’ on Wednesday.
“Just because of the quality of those bowling attacks, they’ve probably embellished it a bit. So you wouldn’t want to play it every day, but I think for the occasional Test match it’s not the worst thing,” he added. .
ICC Elite Match Umpire Panel member Richie Richardson noted that Gabba’s pitch was “too much in favor of the bowlers”.
“There was extra bounce and the occasional excessive seam movement. The odd delivery also remained weak on day two, which made it very difficult for hitters to partner up,” Richardson had noted a day after the end of the match.
South Africa Captain Dean Elgar also criticized the green top saying, “I don’t think it’s a very good test wicket.”
Vettori, 43, a 113 Test veteran, said when players like Travis Head, Steve Smith and Kyle Verreynne of South Africa applied themselves, they were able to score points.
Head and Smith scored 92 and 36 respectively in the first innings, while Verreynne hit a patient 64.
“It was definitely amplified because of the level of bowling. People are saying those two attacks are potentially the best in the world.
“And the wicket did a lot. But I think we saw through the sleeves of Travis Head, Steve Smith and (Kyle) Verreynne if you went in you could score on it,” Vettori added.
The second Test against South Africa kicks off on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
