Wickets here have taken away our strengths: Tim Paine
Australian Test team skipper Tim Paine is unhappy with the pitches that have been offered at home in the ongoing four-match series against India. The hosts went on to lose the third Test match in Melbourne by a whopping 137 runs. The defeat sees Australia trail India by a 2-1 margin in the series. This is what Paine had to say.
'India will be really looking forward to Sydney wicket'
Paine stated that the wickets in Australia are pretty similar to that of India. The fourth Test match at the SCG could see a dry pitch on offer. And Paine feels that India will benefit. "We're hearing it's probably going to be a little bit dry (at the SCG) ... I'm sure India will be really looking forward to it," Paine told Macquarie Radio.
Paine rues wickets on offer at home
Melbourne had always been a happy hunting ground for the Aussies. But this time around, the visiting side dominated the show. One thing that was missing here was the quick Australian surface that assists bounce and pace. Paine highlighted the same and felt that the wickets rolled here have taken away the strengths from the side.
Paine questions the nature of pitches
"That's been the one disappointing thing; it seems we've rolled up some wickets here in Australia that have taken away from our strengths, which is pace and bounce. You'd like the slips to come into play at some stage, wouldn't you?", said Paine.
Wickets here have suited India more: Paine
One would have expected the curators to prepare pitches that suit the home team and cause a menace for India. That hasn't come about this time. Paine feels the wickets favor India. "It's a frustration for us. You never go to India and get served up green wickets. They've come out here and we've served some wickets up that really suit them."
