We will never make excuses about pitch and conditions: Ravi Shastri
Team Udayavani, Jul 26, 2018, 11:46 AM IST
Chelmsford: India coach Ravi Shastri today asserted that the current team does not believe in complaining and will not make tough conditions an excuse for its performances in what is expected to be a gruelling five-Test series against England.
There were reports that Indian team management is not happy with pitch and outfield at the Essex county ground, the venue of their only warm-up game that was curtailed to three days owing to heat wave in England.
But Shastri in his inimitable style said his team doesn’t make excuses.
“My philosophy is very simple (in) your country, I don’t ask questions. (In) my country, you don’t ask. I said (to groundsmen) leave it, and don’t take anything off, Shastri said during a media conference today.
One thing, on this trip, you will never see this Indian team giving an excuse as regarding conditions or the pitch. Our challenge is to beat them. We take pride in performing wherever we go and we want to be the best travelling side in the world. The last person to complain will be this Indian team (sic), so I want to clarify this very clearly, Shastri reiterated what has been a standard answer from the time he took over as head coach.
He further dispelled any doubts about complaints regarding the pitch or the outfield, which is very rugged and bears only patches of grass.
There was good grass on that (pitch). The groundsmen asked if we wanted the grass to be taken off. I said ‘absolutely not’. (It is) your prerogative. You give (the wicket), we play, so when you come to my country you can never ask (about pitches).”
He said that searing heat was a factor as far as ‘cricketing reasons’ are concerned, and the team wanted better preparation ahead of the first Test starting in Birmingham on August 1.
“The game was reduced from four days to three because of the logistics and the weather prevailing. We had an opportunity to practice three days in Birmingham, which is the Test match venue.
“If we had played four days here we would have lost that one day there because of travel. As simple as that because the prerogative whether to play a two-day, three-day or four-day game lies entirely with the travelling team,” Shastri explained.
Shastri said the decision to shorten the game was made during practice on Tuesday.
“It was decided yesterday (during practice). We had a chat (with Essex authorities) and once they explained how they had sold tickets and everything. We were quite happy to play even a two-day game and use that one extra day for practice here. But they said tickets and all that, so we said okay, ‘we will play a three-day game’.”
The basic idea was to have a session at the Edgbaston on Sunday.
“And travel on Saturday, to be able to practice on Sunday. The reason is to get to the Test match venue because it wouldn’t have served any purpose with an extra day here. An extra day there will give us more familiarity with the venue and the conditions where you are playing the first Test,” he signed off.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Indian prodigy D Gukesh returns triumphant to cheering crowds in Chennai
Credit to Stoinis as it didn’t seem like 210 track: KL Rahul
“Had the game in hand, but…”: Ruturaj Gaikwad on reason behind CSK’s 1st home loss in IPL 2024
Stoinis ton shocks CSK as LSG win by six wickets
IPL 2024: We’ve got a little bit of improving to do, both with bat and ball, says Warner
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Congress leader Kharge pens letter to PM Modi, requests meeting to discuss ‘Nyay Patra’
Congress determined to weaken OBC quota by giving religion-based reservation: PM Modi
Watch: Remotely piloted IAF aircraft crashes in Jaisalmer
FSSAI initiates nationwide sampling of Nestlé’s Cerelac: CEO
Rahul Gandhi raises alarm: Elections beyond Modi’s control