India’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand was today being played on a used wicket, with the ICC forced to defend a late switch amid accusations of home bias.
The host nation went into the contest as red-hot favourites to reach Sunday’s final having won all nine of their group stage matches, while New Zealand, runners-up four years ago, snuck into the semi-finals on five wins.
Controversy threatened to cloud the meeting at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, however, after it was confirmed prior to the toss that the match would be played on a wicket used twice already in the tournament, rather than a fresh surface as initially planned.
In theory, the move could benefit India’s world-class slow bowlers Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, though New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has also enjoyed a superb tournament. Speaking on the BBC’s coverage, former England captain Michael Vaughan said the late switch left a “sour taste”.
"I don't think India needed to do anything," Vaughan said on Test Match Special. "They have played the best cricket by a country mile. They shouldn't have got involved in what the surface should be.
"We should be talking about cricket but rather than these two incredible teams we are talking about the pitch."
The Mail reported that the change was made without the ICC’s pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, being informed, but the governing body this morning defended the decision.
"Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and has already happened a couple of times," a spokesperson said. "This change was made on the recommendation of the venue curator in conjunction with our host.
“The ICC independent pitch consultant was apprised of the change and has no reason to believe the pitch won't play well."
