Former West Indies player Philo Wallace, has expressed his displeasure with the surface at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua where the first Test between West Indies and England is ongoing.
During the Mason and Guest radio programme on Tuesday, Wallace contended that there must be something in the pitches that can help our bowlers.
“I’m surprised at the surface at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium… we need to prepare pitches to help our fast bowlers. I think these friendly pitches we are offering up is not doing any good to our cricket. Our bowlers have to work a tad too hard to get wickets at home,” he said.
Wallace made the comparison to Pakistan who played to a draw against Australia. He explained, “You see what Pakistan did to Australia, strangled them for five days and when people come to the Caribbean we should prepare pitches that suit us so we can get some results in our favour.”
It was the West Indies pacers who took all 10 wickets in England’s first innings with Jayden Seales taking the lion’s share of four wickets. Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph all returned two wickets. Jonny Bairstow top scored with 140 while Ben Foakes supported with 42.
Bairstow blamed the tacky pitch due to moisture as the main issue for the cluster of wickets falling on the opening day. However, Roach said the pitch played better than expected.
