The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final, being held at Lord's, has ignited a debate surrounding pitch criticism and perceived double standards in the cricket world. With a staggering 28 wickets falling in the first two days of the match between Australia and South Africa, questions are being raised about the silence from certain quarters, particularly when similar conditions in India would likely be met with harsh criticism.
The narrative suggests that pitches in India are often scrutinized, with accusations of being doctored to favor the home team's spin bowlers. This leads to controversies regarding the balance between bat and ball. However, when a pitch in England exhibits similar dominance by pace bowlers, resulting in a flurry of wickets, the reaction seems muted, with the surface often being lauded as "sporting."
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has been vocal about this perceived double standard. He questioned whether the Western media would have reacted with outrage if such a high number of wickets had fallen in India, accusing the host nation of preparing unplayable pitches and "killing Test cricket." He pointed out that when it occurs in England, it is simply deemed a "sporting pitch" with no blame being placed on the ICC or the curators.
The conditions at Lord's have undoubtedly favored the fast bowlers, with significant lateral movement on offer. Kagiso Rabada's five-wicket haul in the first innings and Pat Cummins' six-wicket burst in South Africa's first innings are testament to this. While some argue that the batsmen have lacked patience and resilience, the underlying question remains: would the same leniency be extended to India if their pitches produced similar results?
The ICC has faced pitch-related criticism in the past, notably during the T20 World Cup in New York, where inconsistent bounce and two-paced surfaces drew concerns about player safety. In that instance, the ICC acknowledged the issues and took steps to remedy the situation. However, the current scenario at Lord's raises a different point – not necessarily about the quality of the pitch itself, but about the contrasting reactions it elicits compared to similar situations in other countries.
Ultimately, the WTC Final has highlighted a potential bias in how cricket pitches are perceived and judged. While bowler-friendly conditions can create exciting and unpredictable Test matches, it's important to maintain a consistent standard of evaluation, regardless of the host nation. The focus should be on ensuring a fair contest between bat and ball, rather than applying different yardsticks based on geographical location.
