Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar highlighted perceived double standards while discussing the first Ashes Test between England and Australia, which concluded in under two days. The match saw 32 wickets fall as Australia secured an eight-wicket victory.
Gavaskar noted that the pitch received surprisingly little criticism, in stark contrast to the scrutiny the Eden Gardens pitch faced during the first Test between India and South Africa, where it was said to excessively assist spinners. He further remarked that the Perth pitch, contrary to expectations, had more grass than usual, suggesting it offered assistance to seamers and contributed to the early collapse of the English batting lineup.
Gavaskar further noted that criticism tends to be limited when a pitch assists fast bowlers. However, when subcontinental pitches favour spinners, the curators often face intense scrutiny and backlash.