Never faced complaints about practice pitches: Gabba curator

Shocked by India's criticism of the practice pitches here, Gabba's chief curator Kevin Mitchell has said that no other touring cricket team has ever complained about the tracks and insisted that they are just fine for net sessions.

"The practice wickets are fine. They wear just like a match pitch does and reflect what is happening in the middle. We have never had a complaint from another touring team," Mitchell was quoted as saying by the media when asked about India's criticism of the tracks.

The BCCI has complained that the poor quality of practice pitches was responsible for the injuries to a couple of players including opener Shikhar Dhawan, who was forced to delay resuming his overnight innings in the second cricket Test.

- India complain about practice pitches after Dhawan injury

India, after a disastrous second innings collapse, lost the match by four wickets on the fourth day.

Mitchell said the practice pitches are as good as the actual strips.

"None of our players had any problems with those wickets.

"They're very good practice wickets. They emulate pretty much what you get out in the middle. That's what you want at your playing ground.

"I don't think any of our players had any problems with them whatsoever," he said.

Mitchell said India had requested for pitches which are being set aside for the Big Bash clashes but they could not be provided as the tracks were still being prepared.

"They wanted to use practice wickets (prepared) for the Brisbane Heat but those wickets are not ready because they are for a training session on the 23rd (Tuesday)," he said.

Image: Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell Jr

Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images