Bangar defends spinning track, calls it result-oriented pitch

Refusing to blame the pitch for India’s slipshod batting performance on the opening day, coach Sanjay Bangar said the hosts paid for a few errors of judgement on a challenging and “result-oriented wicket” for the third cricket Test against South Africa here on Wednesday.

India were shot out for 215 with the spin-pace combo of Simon Harmer (4/78) and Morne Morkel (3/35) being the wreckers-in-chief. In reply, South Africa were also in spot of bother, reduced to 11/2 at stumps.

“It’s definitely a result-oriented wicket which is equally challenging for both sides. Whichever side adjusts to it (better) will end up with a chance of winning the game,” said Bangar at the end of day one in the penultimate game of the four-match rubber.

Though the Indian batting effort lasted just 78.2 overs, and the highest score was an innings of 40 from in-form opener Murali Vijay, Bangar said all his batsmen applied themselves to the hard task.

“All our batsmen applied themselves well. But when the wicket is slightly challenging there are likely to be errors in judgement. It’s all part of the game.” India, leading the series 1-0, hit back after being bowled out cheaply, by dismissing two visiting team’s batsmen with only 4 runs on the board and there’s every likelihood of the game not lasting even four days, let alone five.

He further said in defense of the hosts’ tactics in the series that teams visiting the Indian sub-continent should expect such conditions.

“When India travel overseas, ball starts seaming from the first over. It’s the same for teams coming to subcontinent.

Wickets are same for both sides; it is a test of skills. Just as skill against the seaming ball is important, skill against the spinning ball is also equally important.” “It’s a very challenging wicket to score. This has been a low scoring series and we have to accept that,” he said.