PAK vs AUS 2022: The biggest threat to Test cricket are dead pitches – Wasim Jaffer

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has lashed out at Rawalpindi’s pitch which has been offered in the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia.

Jaffer stated that the biggest threat to Test cricket are dead pitches. Pakistan declared after scoring 476-4 in their first innings after Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first.

Imam ul-Haq and Azhar Ali scored daddy hundreds as they scored 157 and 185 respectively. The duo added 208 runs for Pakistan as they looked untroubled at the crease. Subsequently, Australia posted 459 runs in their first dig after David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne scored fifties.

In fact, there is no doubt that the pitch is dead as there is hardly any help for the bowlers.

Wasim Jaffer wrote in his Twitter post, “I find it amusing when Test matches get over inside 4 days yet teams lose WTC points for overrate. The biggest threat to test cricket is not overrate. Tests rarely go to day 5 anyway nowadays. The biggest threat to test cricket are dead pitches. Dead pitch = Dead game.” #PAKvAUS

Meanwhile, the first two innings of the Test match were completed on Day five as the match is progressing to a dull draw. Australian batter Steve Smith was labeled the pitch as dead as there is nothing in it for the bowlers.

“It’s pretty benign,” the former captain said. “There’s not a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers. I think the spinners have offered a little bit. When you hit the right length there’s been a little bit of natural variation and you know, when you get it out a bit wider into the rough I think there’s a little bit there as well. So I thought it would break up a little bit more and probably turn a bit more from the start, but it probably hasn’t done so. But yeah, pretty benign, dead wicket.”

The home team is 79-0 in their second innings and the match is going towards a mundane draw. The second Test match between Pakistan and Australia will begin on March 12 at the National Stadium, Karachi.