Groundskeeper responsible for Gabba wicket admits the deck was NOT good enough for Test cricket

Gabba curator David Sandurski admitted the surface in Brisbane was not up to the requirements of Test cricket, after 36 wickets fell in under six sessions.

South Africa were bowled out for 152 on Day One of the first Test on Sunday and then skittled out for 99 shortly after tea on Day Two, leaving Australia needing 34 to win and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Aussies, however, still lost by four wickets in the second digs, with Kagiso Rabada taking 4-13 to dismiss David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Head.

The pitch at the Gabba came under scrutiny after 34 wickets fell in just two days of play

With just 144.2 overs bowled in four innings, the Test was the first on Australian soil to end in two days since the West Indies were routed in Melbourne in 1931.

‘The proof is in the pudding,’ he told News Corp.

The scorecards are there. You can’t deny it. This is clearly not good enough for a match of this magnitude.

‘ I’m obviously disappointed. No one wants to have a two-day Test. All signs in the build-up point to it being a reasonable wicket.

Gabba curator David Sandurski admitted the surface in Brisbane was not up to scratch

‘Two good bowling line-ups exposed every bit of that wicket they could.’

Marnus Labuschagne, whose five not out in the second innings helped Australia over the line, with the deck at the Gabba far from ideal for Test cricket.

‘I think everyone understands that this is not what we want, that is not the ideal scenario,’ he told SEN.

‘We love the pace of the wicket, we love the bounce, we love two quick bowling attacks, but if we finish in two days, obviously it’s not ideal for Test cricket .’

Marnus Labuschagne says the wicket in Brisbane is not ideal for Test cricket

Labuschagne (left) and Cameron Green (right) eventually saw the Aussies home after the hosts lost four wickets in their second innings chasing just 34 to win

South African captain Dean Elgar, who faced a total of 14 balls in his two innings for a combined score of five, slammed the surface as a poor advertisement for Test cricket.

‘You have to ask yourself the question, is this a good ad for our format?,’ he told ABC.

‘I am obviously a purist of this format, you want to see the game go four, five days. […] I did ask the umpires: “How long until it’s possibly unsafe?” I don’t think it’s a very good Test wicket.’

Steve Smith, who made 36 and 6, described the surface as ‘the most challenging wicket I have ever seen in Australia’.

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar felt that the surface could be dangerous for the players

But Australia skipper Pat Cummins insisted the pitch was ‘fine’, although he admitted the short-term nature of the contest was not ideal.

‘It’s definitely confusing,’ he said.

I don’t think the toss was a big factor in the win because everything was so fast. Two days maybe not perfect. […] Not allowed [was it dangerous]all right.’