Former Australian Test players Dean Jones and Rodney Hogg have blasted Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr and the pitch following the opening day of the first Ashes Test.
Australia's much hyped pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins failed to trouble the English batsmen for much of the day, with the tourists finishing the on 4-196 at stumps on day one.
The pitch, rather than favour our daunting pace trio, was softer than expected and lacked the pace and bounce to assist our bowlers, which was seen as Australia's biggest weapon this series.
Jones, who played 52 Test matches for Australia, described the pitch as "rubbish".
“I think it’s a rubbish pitch and they couldn’t have given them (England) a better Christmas present before the start of this tour,” Jones said after the opening day of play.
“We’ve got quick bowlers (and) we just give them a featherbed first up. I just can’t believe we’ve actually given that type of pitch to them.”
Meanwhile Hogg, who made 38 appearances for Australia at Test level, made the extraordinary suggestion that curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr, should do jail time for his efforts.
“He should be taken away and locked up, Kevin Mitchell, it was like we presented England the start of the series,” Hogg said.
“How’s the wicket fellas? What do you want for afternoon tea? What do you want to drink after the game? We’re just the perfect hosts aren’t we?
“When we’ve been in England we’ve seen a dry wicket at The Oval, a dry wicket at Lords, then we saw two years ago at Edgbaston when they turned out a green top so Jimmy Anderson could try and get some wickets against us, and we turn out this sort of wicket today?
“It was underprepared, but we’ve got the three quicks and we’re talking about giving them some short stuff, and then we come out and see men playing from the crease.
“When the wickets are faster they won’t be able to get away with that.”
At tea on day two, Australia is struggling at 3-76, after dismissing England for 302 in the first innings.
