London: Disappointed by the “lifeless” pitch which produced a draw in the opening India-England Test, former captain Geoffrey Boycott said decks like the one in Nottingham will turn the home pacers into a bunch of “midgets” with little or no belief in their abilities.
“Both sets of seam bowlers were flogged trying and failing to get any bounce out of this slow, low, lifeless pitch. It was like banging the ball into porridge. The public will not keep paying huge ticket prices to see a no-contest,” Boycott wrote in his column.
“We have seven Tests during our summer and if we play on decks like this, our seam bowlers will become exhausted and lose their enthusiasm. Every country has the right to request and get from the groundsmen surfaces that suit their bowlers. It has always happened and there is nothing in the laws of cricket against it. It is not cheating or gamesmanship, just common sense.”
“We want pitches with pace and seam movement. If England get outplayed, then we need to put our hands up and say that is our fault. But we should back ourselves to beat India in English conditions. You have to believe in yourself,” he added.
Disappointed with England’s overall performance in the match, Boycott also felt that Alastair Cook should step down as skipper if he fails to come good in the second match — which starts on July 17 at the Lord’s.
“I am not saying sack the guy. You sack players who have only played two or three Tests and cannot cut it at the top level. This is a player with 25 Test hundreds, one of our best of all time. He will come good again. But he cannot carry on like this because his form embarrasses the team and puts pressure on all the other players,” he said.
“The talk is constantly about the captain’s runs. It should be about the team and not him. The team is bigger than him. Cook should see himself, without anybody having to tell him, that if he does not score runs then he must act before the outcry becomes too loud.” “He could still come back as captain and batsman when he has rediscovered his confidence and form,” he added.
