Jonathan-Trott. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, has criticized the pitch used in the South Africa vs. Afghanistan match in Trinidad, saying it was unfit for a T20 World Cup semi-final. Afghanistan faced a tough loss, scoring only 56 runs, the lowest ever in a T20 World Cup semi-final, against a dominant South African team.
Trott voiced his concerns during a post-match press conference. He emphasized that T20 cricket should be about more than just survival and called for a balanced contest between bat and ball.
“I don’t want to get myself into trouble. But I also don’t want to sound a bit like ‘sour grapes’ but that’s not the pitch that you want to have a semi-final of a World Cup on. Plain and simple. It should be a fair contest. I’m not saying it should be completely flat with no spin and seam movement,” said Trott, as quoted by India Today.
The South African bowlers capitalized on the pitch’s uneven bounce and lateral seam movement, making it difficult for Afghan batters to settle in. Although the Proteas faced similar issues in their innings, they managed to secure a 9-wicket victory.
Also Read: Twitter Reactions: South Africa thrash Afghanistan to book maiden World Cup final ticket
Trott emphasized that a good T20 pitch should enable batters to play confidently and allow bowlers to showcase their skills, promoting an attacking and dynamic game rather than just survival.
“You shouldn’t have batters worrying about moving forward and having the ball fly over their head. You should be confident in getting through the line or use their skills. And T20 is all about attacking and scoring runs and taking wickets. Not looking to survive,” he added.
If we had bowled the way South Africa had, you could have seen a different second half: Trott
Trott conceded that if Afghanistan had bowled like South Africa, the game could have seen a different outcome. However, he acknowledged the Proteas’ performance, recognizing that the opposition’s skillful bowling was a key factor, and emphasized the need for teams to adapt to such situations.
“If the opposition bowled well and gets you into a position after bowling well and through skill, then it’s fine to them. Then it’s about adapting. If we had bowled the way South Africa had, you could have seen a different second half,” he added.