A meeting of muddied men is key to the outcome of the series between SA and Australia. They are Hilbert Smit‚ Cricket SA’s pitch consultant‚ and the groundsmen at the venues where the four Tests will be played. They were due to gather last week to look back at the series against India and think ahead to the Australian rubber. The focus on pitches will be sharper than usual in the wake of the character of those on which SA beat India 2-1. Newlands was spicy — too spicy‚ if you ask its creator‚ Evan Flint. Centurion veered towards sub-continental and the Wanderers was deemed dangerous enough for play to be suspended late on the third day. All of this happened not because the groundsmen wanted to see blood on the pitch but because the home side asked for surfaces more overtly South African in nature than normal. Except for Centurion‚ they got them. And if they had not won the series they would have faced stern questions about the importance of being careful about what you wish for. Ind...
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