• England director of cricket says he did not inquire counties for slower pitches
• Lifeless wickets in first two Tests criticised for playing into Australia’s handsAndrew Strauss,England’s director of cricket, has told the players he was not responsible for sending an email to the five Test grounds specifying what pitches they should prepare. Reports had suggested that the five counties hosting Ashes Tests this summer had received an email from Strauss that at least one county interpreted as requesting pitches that are slower rather than faster”, or although the England and Wales Cricket Board denied this,saying only that it had requested traditional English Test wickets.
Strauss did not deny that an email had been sent, but was clear with the England players and coaches that it had not approach from him. There has been genuine irritation within the England camp about the state of the pitches for the first two Tests. Some players believe the pitches, or very slow and with minimal bounce,own played right into Australia’s hands.
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Source: theguardian.com