As the highly anticipated Ashes 2023 draws near, both England and Australia are leaving no stone unturned to ensure they are at the top of their game for the upcoming Test series. In preparation for the battle against the Aussies, England skipper Ben Stokes recently shared his thoughts on the kind of pitches he would prefer his team to encounter during the series.
Barwell denies Stokes’ claims
Stokes expressed that the team had clearly communicated their desires to the ground staff, stating their preference for fast and flat wickets for the Ashes. However, Gary Barwell, the head of sports turf and grounds at Edgbaston, where the first Test will be held, countered Stokes’ claims, revealing that he had not received any specific instructions from the England captain regarding pitch preferences.
Barwell, while reflecting on the matter, revealed, I was on holiday in Miami, and I got sent the clip. I can 100% tell you I have never been told that, I know they want good pitches; that’s all I’ve heard, and I don’t think that’s unusual. I’ve never been asked to produce a pitch for England in all the time I’ve been here. I get asked to produce a good cricket wicket, and that’s it.”
Barwell thanks football
Moreover, Barwell highlighted the significant improvement in the quality of pitches in recent times, attributing it in part to the influence of the Premier League in English football. He acknowledged that while football may have the financial resources, the Premier League has played a vital role in raising the standards of England’s cricket pitches.
“Football’s got the money, of course it has, but the Premier League has been a real help in pushing standards. They back the grounds manager, and with cricket, I think the progress that’s been made on pitches has been potentially a little bit despite ECB involvement rather than because of it. With the Premier League, it’s one common goal to have an amazing pitch; rugby’s similar. The level of research and interaction with groundsmen from the ECB has not been at that level.”, Barwell expressed.
As fans eagerly await the first Test at Edgbaston, the revelations surrounding pitch preferences and the contrasting opinions between Stokes and Barwell add an extra layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated Ashes showdown. The players and ground staff will play a crucial role in determining the nature of the pitches, further intensifying the excitement surrounding this iconic cricketing rivalry.
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