as it always has been. I remember my Dad getting all uppity when we went to India I think it was when they had two world class spinner Behdi was one and on the radio they were saying that the pitch had been "manipulated" to take spin...as a kid I had no idea what that meant until I played for...
But Smith is the world's number 1 batsman.
Root unfortunately has been lured into the trap that the English love to do. Find a young player who is very very good....see him score amazing scores...build him up in the press as the next Bradman...start to whinge about where he should be batting 3...