cricket porn

This, in an unexpected context, is worth a read in itself:

In most places an ODI pitch looks and behaves much the same as another: it gives up runs as easily as do porn stars their clothes.

Its so true though. All this standardizing of pitches is flattening the variety curve in cricket. It lead a frothing-at-the-mouth Jeremy Coney to recently say- during Sky’s coverage of India’s tour of Kiwi land- that the BCCI was telling all other boards in no uncertain terms to “give us the pitches we like or face the consequences, we will not tour your country!” I recall this, I must admit, only partly accurately, but the tone was at least as agitated and accusatory.

This also reminds me of the time when Indian cricket claimed that in order for it to be competitive at the international level, it needed more pitches at home that encouraged fast bowlers. Sure, but not when those pitches are used for an international game against a country that has come to India dreading those ‘sub-continental dustbowls where the ball turns square!”. I see no reason why the odd pitch in India should not be spitefully spinning, just as the odd pitch in South Africa can menacingly swing (Durban in ’96 anyone?), or the select pitch in Australia is fearfully bouncy. All of these are increasingly unlikely to be found, and it’s a darned pity.

At any rate, the pitches in india are getting frighteningly dead now, with plenty for the batsmen, sometimes a teeny bit for the fast bowlers and often nothing for the spinners; but in too many instances, boredom for the fan.