India's fear of Brisbane pitch - Vaughan gets backlash

Former England captain Michael Vaughan received heavy backlash on his comment about the Indian Test side on Twitter. Vaughan took on to the social media platform to opine on the Indian team’s reluctance to play the fourth Test match at Gabba. The Indian management had asked Cricket Australia to shift the venue for the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy from Brisbane to Sydney.

The team is currently playing the third game of the series at the same venue (SCG). However, Australian authorities, pointing out at India’s reason- strict quarantine protocols- said that the visitors must respect the rules.

On what has been inflated into a big discussion, Vaughan commented hinting that the Indian team doesn’t want to play at Gabba and the quarantine restrictions are just a made-up call. An Indian side has never won a test at Gabba.

Michael Vaughan received much backlash on Twitter

“Covid restrictions or the Pitch in Brisbane they are concerned about?”

Vaughan Tweeted, but it invited a huge criticism. As he tweeted, comments flowed in. The English great received a lot of flak from cricket fans around the world. Vaughan is known for his unusual comments and pinpointing India on various occasions.

Only weeks ago, after India’s humiliating defeat at Adelaide, Micheal Vaughan predicted a 4-0 clean-sweep win for Australia in the series. However, Ajinkya Rahane and company stunned the home team in the Boxing Day Test, emerging with a thumping win. Vaughan again took on Twitter after the Melbourne win, to say that Australia wins the series 3-1.

Along with the backlash, some users supported Vaughan too. Here are the Tweets by users who thought in the same way:

“They never wanted to play in Brisbane in the first place now it is just an excuse. Send them on the first plane home when the SCG Test is over.”

Another one added that ICC should sanction India and the team should be declared loser by forfeit.

“They are concerned about losing, and are attempting fixture manipulation.

If they refuse to travel to Brisbane, they should be declared loser by forfeit. They should then be sanctioned by the ICC. Of course none of that will happen, because it is India.”

However majority of the comments challenged Vaughan’s idea; what they asked?

“I can ask the same in different way. Why are Aussies adamant to play at Gabba?? Don’t they know to play in Sydney?? India will obviously agree to play at any ground in India. Why are Aussies afraid?”

People thrashed him with a lot of comments and a fan added that how loose his thinking can be. “How loose your thinking can be? It tells how scared Australia is because if any pitch assists India even 10%, chances of Australian victories suffer a downward spiral. You cannot play on any pitch in India and playing your old dirty tricks. Make some sense please. Do u know MENTAL FATIGUE?” a fan’s comment read.”

“India at least wins in Adelaide, MCG, SCG but England lost 5-0 in 2007, 5-0 in 2010, 5-0 in 2014, 4-0. Shameless looser have worst record on any pitches in Australia”

What next for Team India in Australia and post this series?

Team India managed to save the third Test match in Sydney. They held it to a draw despite a lot of injury problems. Saying that they do not want to play at a venue out of fear is clearly not thinking right. That is what the fans have made clear right now and will not take any such translations of the fact that team India is mentally exhausted, as showcased by some of the players already.

It’s been a long cricketing season for the team and they have barely had any breaks. They have been playing the IPL 2020 tournament and have been rushed post that to Australia. A lot of the players have not even been able to go back home. Due to that, some of the injuries can already be seen.

Had they been given adequate rest and time to recharge their batteries, things could have been different. For now, the Indian team will want to play good cricket in the fourth Test match. They then have a series against England at home.