Lord's ko 'Home of Cricket' kaha jata hai, lekin filhal wahan jo cricket ho rahi hai, usse dekh kar batters ke dilon mein dehshat baith gayi hai. Cricket fans ko ummeed thi ki ek high-class Test match dekhne ko milega, lekin England vs New Zealand ke beech chal rahe is mukable mein pitch ne sara maza kirkira kar diya hai. Har 25 ball par ek wicket gir raha hai aur condition aisi hai ki batting karna kisi lottery se kam nahi lag raha.
The Guru Story
Cricket ke do bade veterans, Nasser Hussain aur Michael Vaughan, ne Lord's ki is wicket ki jamkar dhulayi ki hai. Nasser Hussain ne toh is pitch ko seedhe taur par 'substandard' karaar de diya. Unka manna hai ki batting karna lagbhag 'impossible' ho chuka hai kyunki bounce itna unpredictable hai ki batsman ko pata hi nahi chalta ki agali ball ghutne par aayegi ya sar ke upar se nikal jayegi.
Jacob Bethell ka dismissal iska sabse bada saboot tha. Matt Henry ki ek ball itni neeche rahi ki batsman ke paas bachne ka koi mauka hi nahi tha. Nasser Hussain ne Sky Sports par kaha ki jab bounce up-and-down ho, saath mein seam movement mile aur Lord's ka slope bhi apna kaam kare, toh world-class batting bhi fail ho jati hai.
Wahin dusri taraf, Michael Vaughan ne kaha ki unhe batters ke liye bura lag raha hai. Unka point bilkul clear hai: Test cricket ek 'test' hona chahiye, lekin ye sirf batters ka imtihaan hai, bowlers ke liye toh ye maze ki baat hai. Jab Joe Root aur Kane Williamson jaise legend players milkar 4 innings mein sirf 27 runs bana paayein, toh samajh lijiye ki khot pitch mein hai, players mein nahi.
Hairani ki baat ye hai ki MCC ne pichle saal pitch ko behtar karne ke liye 'steaming' technique ka use kiya tha taaki pace aur bounce badh sake, par lagta hai ye prayog puri tarah fail ho gaya hai. New Zealand ke gendaaz Nathan Smith ne bhi maana ki cloud cover aur variable bounce ne bowlers ki kaafi madad ki hai.
Analysis & Numbers
- Har 25 balls par ek wicket gir raha hai, jo Test cricket ke standards ke hisaab se bahut zyada tezz hai.
- Pehle do dino mein England aur New Zealand ke captains ne ek over bhi spin nahi karwayi, kyunki fast bowlers ke liye pitch jannat bani hui hai.
- Duniya ke do behtareen batters, Joe Root aur Kane Williamson, ne charo innings milakar mahaz 27 runs jode hain.
- Pichli teen innings ke scores 140, 113 aur 226 rahe hain, jo darshata hai ki 254 runs ka target bhi yahan pahad jaisa hai.
The Guru Gyan Verdict:
Dekhiye boss, baat bahut saaf hai. Agar ye pitch India mein hoti toh ab tak 'dust bowl' aur 'poor pitch rating' ka rona shuru ho gaya hota. English media aur unke pundits ne duniya bhar ki pitches ko judge kiya hai, ab jab apne hi 'Home of Cricket' mein ye haal hai, toh dard hona lazmi hai. Jab PCB flat highways banata hai toh mazaak udaya jata hai, par Lord's mein aisi 'lottery' wicket banana bhi koi garv ki baat nahi hai. Bat aur ball ke beech balance hona chahiye, aur filhal balance khidki se bahar kood chuka hai. Cricket fans ko achhi batting dekhni hai, bowlers ki charity nahi.
Stay tuned to The Guru Gyan for more unfiltered cricket masala!