‘Pathetic’: Ian Healy blows up over Australia’s treatment in India

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy has urged the International Cricket Council to ensure visiting teams are treated fairly during Border-Gavasakar Trophy tours.

Australia were decked out in two and a half days in the first Test in Nagpur with one innings and 132 carries, giving the four-match streak a terrible start.

A report in Sydney Morning Herald It turns out Australia had asked to practice on the middle wicket on day four in Nagpur to find some form in the difficult conditions before the next Test.

A request that was reportedly granted.

However, when they showed up for practice, they found that the pitch and practice nets had been watered by ground staff, ruining their plans.

Speaking of SenHealy described it as “pathetic”.

“I think it’s a pathetic effort,” Healy said.

“It’s really embarrassing that our plans are failing to get some training sessions at this Nagpur wicket.

“It’s not good, it’s just not good for cricket.”

Whether intentional or the result of a communication failure, the incident has further highlighted the challenges of touring in India.

Curators in Nagpur had prepared a pitch that would spin and allegedly disrupt Australia’s left-heavy batting lineup.

With a few exceptions, the visitors’ batsmen needed little help getting themselves out as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin rolled through them with little resistance.

The lack of a tour match in Indian conditions has since been suggested as a possible cause of the fighting.

Not being able to train on the worn out pitch in Nagpur will not help the situation.

Healy suggested the ICC needed to step in to prevent similar treatment on either side from damaging the rivalry between the two cricket powerhouses.

“The ICC has to step in here and say, ‘Our nations need to trust each other a lot more, if you ask for certain conditions to practice and prepare, you have to get them,'” Healy said.

“For them, unceremoniously watering the wicket when it’s been called for practice is awful and that needs improvement.”

Australia will get a shot at redemption when the second Test begins in Delhi on Friday.

There will be keen interest in team selection, with Matthew Renshaw in particular under pressure after results of zero and two in Nagpur, while Travis Head, controversially ruled out of the first test, could get a chance to prove himself in sub-continental conditions .