There is also a (mostly) endearing attribute: his feeling for the game is lot like us ordinary fans. It comes across in videos he makes for his YouTube channel. I say "mostly" because it also carries over into defensiveness when, say, the quality of a pitch is questioned.
Tbh, I also see where his defensiveness comes from, too. Pitches are questioned when they turn early. The unnatural bounce or movement ones are called "challenging". Language matters, and I see why he is feisty whenever that question is asked.
I've felt that was more about basic entropy. A pitch that starts off true or with the surface undisturbed can, during the course of the test, deteriorate. So you have fast bowlers first, then batsmen, then spinners play a part in the game -- the full range of talents expressed. On the other hand if the pitch behaves like a day five pitch on day one, it can't become true on day five, so only a limited number of skills can find full expression.
Personally loved how the Australian pitches played in the 90s and 00s. The great seamers and the great spinners got wickets, and the good batsmen made runs. The pitches in the recent India England series were much better than those last time around IMO.
<Insert an extremely intelligent comment>
There is also a (mostly) endearing attribute: his feeling for the game is lot like us ordinary fans. It comes across in videos he makes for his YouTube channel. I say "mostly" because it also carries over into defensiveness when, say, the quality of a pitch is questioned.
I agree.
Tbh, I also see where his defensiveness comes from, too. Pitches are questioned when they turn early. The unnatural bounce or movement ones are called "challenging". Language matters, and I see why he is feisty whenever that question is asked.
I've felt that was more about basic entropy. A pitch that starts off true or with the surface undisturbed can, during the course of the test, deteriorate. So you have fast bowlers first, then batsmen, then spinners play a part in the game -- the full range of talents expressed. On the other hand if the pitch behaves like a day five pitch on day one, it can't become true on day five, so only a limited number of skills can find full expression.
Personally loved how the Australian pitches played in the 90s and 00s. The great seamers and the great spinners got wickets, and the good batsmen made runs. The pitches in the recent India England series were much better than those last time around IMO.