Cricket Australia Assures Indian Women's Test Against Australia Will Be On ‘Fresh Pitches’

Cricket Australia (CA) has assured that the Indian women team's Test against Australia, scheduled from September 30 to October 3, will play on a fresh Test pitch at Western Australian Cricket Association(WACA) ground.

The announcement comes on the back of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s debacle of old pitches provided to host Mithali Raj's side on a used track in the one-off match in Bristol.

According to 7Cricket, Cricket Australia Head of Operations Peter Roach addressed the issue and said, "It's standard practice in Australia to ensure fresh pitches are available for all men's and women's Test matches and this season will be no different".

He further asserted that "women's game rise to a new level” in recent times, therefore, it is important to provide a platform for that “trend to continue".

Cricket Australia has confirmed @AusWomenCricket's Tests against England and India this summer will be on fresh pitches ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GRa31mUWeg

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 19, 2021

Meanwhile, the WACA Ground in Perth will host a Test against India for the first time in 15 years.

It would be followed by the Test against England in late January next year to start the multi-format Ashes series to be held at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

On the other hand, Heather Knight, England women's team captain has also expressed displeasure at a used pitch being given for her side's one-off Test against India in Bristol. Knight conveyed it's not ideal as they would want to play on a fresh strip.

Previously, a week ago, the Bristol's County Ground pitch was used for a Gloucestershire T20 match. Knight has asserted that it might become sluggish later in the Test.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had apologised for being unable to provide a fresh wicket as the Test was only being added to the calendar in mid-April. They conveyed their disappointment and informed that the wicket for the LV= Insurance Test match against India will have had 37 overs played on it.

“We know that England Women deserve a fresh wicket and we are sorry that we were unable to provide that in this instance,” a spokesperson from the ECB said. However, they assured that the issue shouldn’t have occurred and measures would be taken to avoid such circumstances in the future.