Even Labuschagne, who was coming off greater than 500 runs in two Exams towards the West Indies, struggled on the Gabba the place 34 wickets fell inside two days play because the Aussies romped to victory on a inexperienced wicket almost the identical color because the outfield.
South African skipper Dean Elgar requested the umpires whether or not the pitch was secure throughout the sport and continued that harsh criticism post-match.
“I did ask the umpires how lengthy it goes on for earlier than it’s primarily unsafe,” he stated.
“That’s the place the umpires’ discretion is available in — it’s lower than us gamers.”
Whereas Australian captain Pat Cummins thought the wicket was “tremendous”, Labuschagne admitted it was “not preferrred” for a Take a look at match.
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“I believe everybody understands that this isn’t what we would like, that’s not the perfect state of affairs,” he informed SEN.
“We love the tempo of the wicket, we love the bounce, we love two quick bowling assaults going at it, but when we’re going to complete in underneath two days it’s clearly not preferrred for Take a look at cricket.
“However the actuality is we’ve performed on most likely two of these within the final two years.”
Steve Smith, who made 36 within the first innings however solely six within the second as Australia misplaced 4-24 earlier than getting over the road, stated it was “most likely probably the most difficult wicket I’ve seen in Australia” after the sport.
“It was like there have been completely different areas of moisture on the wicket, so some balls have been taking divots and going gradual off the wicket, others have been hitting tougher components of the wicket and zinging by,” Smith informed cricket.com.au.
“So as soon as these comfortable bits are hit, it creates some divots as properly.
“You’d‘ve seen loads of the balls that hit the divots and both shot low or took off, in order a batter it’s very troublesome to play towards.”
There have solely been 21 Exams since 1877 which have produced a consequence inside two days and Elgar was fuming post-match with the state of the pitch after his aspect was rolled for simply 99 in its second innings.
“Thirty-four wickets in two days – fairly one-sided affair, I might say,” he stated.
“The way it began to play with some significantly steep bounce with the outdated ball, you might be sort of on a hiding to none as a batting unit.
“If you concentrate on it, solely two or possibly three batters, utilized themselves half-decently and scored runs.
“I don’t suppose it was an excellent Take a look at wicket, no.”
Labuschagne in the meantime stated the standard of bowling assaults on either side demanded a greater wicket.
“It felt a bit like a Protect sport,” he stated.
“We’ve seen a good few wickets like that (on the Gabba), however clearly you don’t have two sides with bowling assaults of 4 or 5 guys bowling over 150(km/h), that’s most likely the distinction.
“Take a look at cricket is an endurance battle. Can the batter outlast the bowler? It’s a strategical sport and clearly if you play on a wicket like this it brings the match a lot shut collectively.
“It turns into slightly little bit of a lottery about who will get the higher hand on a wicket like that.
“With such a great bowling assault, they sacrificed slightly bit on their batting as a result of they play the 4 quicks and a spinner. That performed into our benefit this sport since you most likely didn’t want 5 bowlers on a wicket like that.”
Gabba curator David Sandurski was in no temper to defend his pitch when contacted by Information Corp, conceding it was “not adequate”.
“The proof is within the pudding,’’ Sandurski informed Information Corp.
“The scorecards are there. You possibly can’t deny it. It’s clearly not adequate for a match of this magnitude.
“I’m clearly upset. No-one needs to have a two day Take a look at. All of the indicators within the preparation pointed in the direction of it being an inexpensive wicket. Two actually good bowling line-ups have uncovered each little bit of that wicket that they might.’’
