MUMBAI: As the storm over a raging turner brewed, England skipper Joe Root chose to be graceful after defeat in the third Test against India, admitting that his team was outplayed, though he did say that it was a matter of “shame” that a huge crowd which might have turned up to watch Virat Kohli bat against England’s top bowlers, was instead forced to “watch me bowl, which shouldn’t have been the case”.
When asked to comment on former England captain Andrew Strauss‘ observations that the pitch was a “lottery”, and it was “unfair cricket” during commentary back home, Root was quick to accept the fact that his team had been outplayed by India yet again.

However, he agreed to the thought that Tests shouldn’t be finishing inside two days on substandard surfaces. “It’s a real shame, because it’s a fantastic stadium. There’s 60,000 people who’ve come to watch a brilliant, iconic Test match. I almost feel they’ve been robbed.”

Would such wickets damage the ICC’s idea of finding a fair winner for the World Test Championship? “It’s something for the ICC to look at. There’s always going to be slight home advantage. It’s a shame for so many fantastic players on both sides. You’ve got so many world class fast bowlers on both sides, with Ishant playing his 100th Test, and they just don’t get to play.”

Root felt that the pink ball, which skidded off the pitch faster than the normal red SG ball, played a big part in making the spinners more dangerous.