Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan head coach, was restrained in his criticism of the pitch in Tarouba after his team suffered a heavy defeat to South Africa in their first-ever World Cup semi-final. Despite his restraint, it was clear that the pitch at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy significantly contributed to Afghanistan's batting collapse, alongside the fierce bowling by South Africa's fast bowlers. The uneven and unpredictable surface was not suitable for a semi-final, and could have affected South Africa similarly if they had been chasing a higher target than 57.
Trott was likely not alone in his concerns, as all the players involved in the match had valid reasons to be dissatisfied with the pitch conditions. Trott expressed his discontent, saying he didn't want to sound bitter, but that the pitch was not appropriate for a World Cup semi-final. He highlighted that it should be a fair contest, not one where batsmen are worried about unpredictable bounce. T20 cricket is about attacking and scoring runs, not merely surviving.
Both innings saw batsmen struggling to contend with deliveries that either jumped off a length or stayed low. Trott noted that if the opposition bowled well, it should be through skill, not due to a misbehaving pitch. He speculated that had Afghanistan bowled as straight as South Africa, the second innings might have been just as problematic. He acknowledged South Africa's skill in using the conditions but felt it wasn't Afghanistan's night.
Throughout the World Cup, there had been discussions about pitch conditions, especially in the New York leg and some Caribbean venues. However, the pitch in Tarouba came closest to being deemed "unsafe." Several deliveries posed significant danger, and it was fortunate that only Quinton de Kock required brief medical attention.
South African captain Aiden Markram diplomatically described the pitch as "challenging," noting that the team had faced similar conditions throughout the competition. He acknowledged that while it can't always be a batter's game, they were relieved not to play on such a pitch again.
Markram's sentiments likely resonated with all the batsmen who had to navigate the tricky conditions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The three matches leading to the semi-final on these pitches had resulted in low scores of 95, 40, and 78, before Afghanistan was bowled out for 56 in 11.5 overs. Despite the emotional significance of South Africa's victory, the substandard pitch conditions should not be overlooked. The pitch for the semi-final warranted heavy scrutiny, as it was unfit for an international match, let alone a World Cup semi-final.