Published: Jan 03, 2014, 11:57 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 03, 2014, 05:10 PM (IST)
Johannesburg: Jan 3, 2014
England legend and commentator Geoffrey Boycott has slammed South African curators for being “too kind” to India in the recent Test series, saying that had he been the captain of the African side, he would have “strangled” the groundsmen.
According to Sport24, Boycott’s views may sharpen a suspicion among local observers that the whole, initially controversy-marred tour seemed tailor-made to satisfy Indian needs rather than those of the No 1-ranked South Africa.
Boycott, who spends much of his time in South Africa and is very familiar with the cricketing landscape, said that the hosts, who clinched the series 1-0 on the final day of the second Test in Durban, “should have beaten India 2-0” and admitted confusion at the surfaces offered.
Slamming the curators, Boycott also said that the pitches were dry and flat instead of having a bit of pace and grass, adding that he has not seen pitches like these for years in South Africa.
However, the report mentioned that South Africa overcame the inconvenience of relatively benign pitches, with pace pair Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander grabbing 10 wickets each over the course of the often high-scoring Tests.
