New York (USA):Ahead of the marquee India-Pakistan clash on New York’s big Sunday on June 9, concerns have risen vertically about the safety of batters, serious player injuries and dangerous conditions emanating from an unstable and unpredictable pitch at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.
The strip has been fielding scathing criticism, being termed dangerous, unplayable, a joke and an embarrassment in intense conversations on X handles of former players, thanks to its uneven bounce, cracks giving bowlers unexpected fliers and the grass adding to the worries.
Imported from Adelaide recently, the pitches had to take a warm layover in Florida as New York was cringing under an extreme winter back then. By the time summer came to Long Island where the cricket stadium is, and the pitch could be brought in and laid out here, the World Cup was upon it. It had no time to acclimatise, settle in or be tested for safety under New York conditions.
The middle has four pitches which were transported from Florida in May and laid out at Nassau County. All are in the same set of conditions.
In the match against Ireland, even Arshdeep Singh was surprised by how the ball flew around and swung uncontrollably. One of his overs went for 10 balls as he tried to control the trajectory once it hit the surface and flew like a miscued rocket.
Arshdeep, who opened the bowling for the Indian unit against Ireland, said all the time he was trying to control the ball and his breath too when constant wides compelled him to bowl 10 deliveries in an extended over. “My effort was to bowl on scramble seam but that too was swinging too much,” he said.
Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt midway as an unexpected riser from Joshua Little rapped his shoulder bicep, thankfully to no major injury scare.
Virat Kohli could not fathom it and at least one Irish batter had to be taken for a mandatory concussion test after a ripper from Jasprit Bumrah ricocheted off the knuckles of Harry Tector to hit his helmet. Kohli, who took the ensuing catch, looked more concerned about the batter’s safety than joyous.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was unforgiving in his attack and declared on his X handle that it is a sub-standard surface. “Trying to sell the game in the States is great.. love it.. but for players to have to play on this sub-standard surface in New York is unacceptable… You work so hard to make it to the WC then have to play on this,” Vaughan posted.
On a pitch that had plenty of bounce and seam, Indian bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, bundled out Ireland for a paltry 96.