CHENNAI: The pitch for the series-opener between India and Australia is a batting beauty. Two strips are ready and one will be picked a day before Sunday’s day-night encounter. The surface is dry, bereft of grass. It’s hard and brownish, promising full of runs.
“It should be a run feast. Wickets No 3 and 4 have been prepared. No 4 will most likely be the choice of the Indian team. A total of 350 is in the offing. Only if it rains on the eve of the match, will the wicket change character. Otherwise, it will help batters and may be spinners towards the end,” said sources monitoring preparations.
With both teams boasting exciting batsman, finishers may play a decisive role. India have MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya. Who will Australia bank on?
“We have a quite a few. David Warner and Steve Smith are in great touch. Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis can do it in the death overs. James Faulkner has done it before. We don’t rely on one. Someone gets us in that winning position,’’ said Travis Head.
Stoinis, who made 76 in the practice game, had said he and Faulkner are different players, in the sense that he was a batting all-rounder, while Faulkner was more of a bowling all-rounder. But during Thursday’s practice session, captain Smith paid special attention to Stoinis, indicating that later might be the preferred option.
“Faulkner is the only left-arm bowler they have and provides variety. Having said that, on form and keeping the conditions in mind, Stoinis is a good option,’’ said Hemang Badani, coach of the Board President’s XI that lost to Australia in the warm-up match.