SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Flat cricket wickets bother Justin Langer

The WACA wicket has come under fire for being way too batter-friendly during the second Test between Australia and New Zealand.

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Test great Justin Langer has bemoaned the rise in flat pitches around Australia, saying it's creating an unfair battle between bat and ball.

The WACA wicket for the second Test between Australia and New Zealand has come under fire for being too batter-friendly.

Australia made 9(dec)-559 in their first innings, with NZ compiling 624 in reply on a deck that offered little to the pacemen and spinners.

It was also a run-fest in the first Test at the Gabba, where Australia made 4(dec)-556 in their first dig.

"I think that's one of the issues around Australia - that we're playing on wickets that are not necessarily conducive to great Australian cricket," Langer said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"They're so flat, aren't they?

"A couple of years ago, there was quite a strong directive that we had to get flatter wickets.

"I will put my hand up - I think the WACA for a few years, maybe the Gabba, maybe Bellerive, went too far the other way.

"Maybe there were times when it was a bit of a lottery for teams batting first.

"Now it's gone (too far) the other way. We've got to try to get the balance."

WA skipper Adam Voges, who scored an unbeaten hundred on day four of the Test in Perth, admitted the pitch was different to what he was accustomed to.

"I don't think it's probably had quite the pace in it (compared to WACA) wickets I have played on in the past," Voges said.

Langer suggested although the flatter pitches were still producing results, it didn't make for a great spectacle.

"We played at Bellerive a few weeks ago when Mitchell Johnson was bowling fast and it was bouncing twice to the wicketkeeper three times an over," Langer said.

"George Bailey scored 50 in both innings and faced 200 balls in both innings, and we know he's an aggressive batsman.

"So it's not perfect for that sort of cricket. I will agree we're getting results.

"But regardless that we're getting results - is it the results we want to be getting in Australian cricket?"


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world