I don't think I have read anywhere that these were played on poor pitches.. The fact is that Bowlers need to learn how to bowl on good pitches. I know you believe in a contest between bat and ball, but bowlers need to learn how to get batsman out. I think it's quite dull when bowlers can run up and bowl poor balls that rather than going for four, do too much and end up either being knicked to slip, or played and missed.