If seeking home advantage through spin-friendly wickets was not enough, Indian players now seem to have got into the habit of deliberately running on the danger area in a bid to scuff up the wicket.
A day after all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was fined half his match fee for repeatedly running on the danger area, teammate Murali Vijay too was pulled up for the infringement on Monday.
Vijay was given an official warning for running through the middle of the wicket while batting in India’s second innings.
At the press conference after the day’s play, spinner R Ashwin said the wicket didn’t have enough cracks to help spinners. It appears his teammates wanted to ensure there were some extra wear and tear for him to exploit.
Asked if the tactic bothered him, Kiwi opener, Tom Latham said it does not matter, but hoped the umpires would prevent any such indiscretion.
On Sunday, Jadeja was fined and India were penalised five runs. Vijay could face similar action if he repeats the offence.
The danger area is the protected a strip running down the middle of the pitch, two feet wide and beginning five feet from each popping crease. Under the cricket laws, a bowler too must avoid running on this area during his follow-through after delivering the ball.
{{/usCountry}}The danger area is the protected a strip running down the middle of the pitch, two feet wide and beginning five feet from each popping crease. Under the cricket laws, a bowler too must avoid running on this area during his follow-through after delivering the ball.
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