Pakistan coach Lawson criticises Kolkata Test pitch

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson criticised the docile pitch provided by India for the second Test, saying it did not encourage good cricket.

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson criticised the docile pitch provided by India for the second Test, saying it did not encourage good cricket.

India ran up an imposing first-innings score of 616 for five declared on a dead Eden Gardens wicket on Saturday to record their highest total against Pakistan at home.

The visitors were 50 for one at the close on day two.

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“Pitches that just suit batting, that’s not terrific cricket, is it?” the former Australia fast bowler told a news conference.

“Cricket is all about balance, balance between bat and ball,” said Lawson. “You play Test cricket on all different sorts of pitches but pitches like that, you don’t see a lot of bounce at all. It’s all in favour of the batsman.”

Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman scored centuries after classy opener Wasim Jaffer recorded a double hundred to pile on the agony for injury-hit Pakistan.

The visitors were without skipper Shoaib Malik, who has an ankle injury, while fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami were uncertain to play until the morning of the match due to viral infections.

Sources in the LJP (RV) said the names of the remaining 15 candidates would also be announced very soon.

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