South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad was not impressed with the Newlands pitch for the second Test as the hosts lost the match inside two days after dismal batting performance in both innings. The Proteas were bundled out for just 55 in the first innings, while a counter-attacking knock from Aiden Markram helped them post a respectable 176 in the second but it wasn’t enough.
India chased down the 79-run target in 12 overs and won the match by 7 wickets that was played for just 106.2 overs and ended in a day and a little over one session.
It was the shortest Test match ever in terms of overs bowled, bettering the previous best that involved Australia and South Africa at the MCG way back in 1932.
“I don’t know what people want me to say. You only need to look at the scores. 1.5-day Test match! You need to look at how they chased 80 (79). Sad state when you need more luck than skill. All the ethics and values of Test cricket goes out the window,” Conrad, a former Western Province cricketer, lashed out after the series ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Since he has been a Western Province coach and the proverbial insider, he was asked about the surface where balls were just flying from length.
“I don’t know what’s going on here. I have moved on. Not in a position to know the goings on between the walls here. Everybody knows the wicket wasn’t great,” his frank observation would hurt Cricket South Africa (CSA) as well as the Western Province bosses.
Conrad sympathised with chief curator of Newlands, Braam Mong, who, according to the Proteas head coach, might just have “over-prepared” the surface.
“I know Braam Mong. Braam is a good guy. Sometimes good guys do bad things or make mistakes. This doesn’t make him a rubbish groundsman. There will be a lot of learnings for him. I might pop in here and have a word with him to see what he is seeing,” he added.
“You have to feel for the groundsmen too. He wants to get it right too… so the wicket might be over-prepared. Take it on the chin,” said Conrad.
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