The Feroze Shah Kotla pitch for the fourth andfinal Test between India and Australia has come under criticism from the formerplayers, who have termed the track as a "three-day" wicket.
The pitch, which has cracks on it, saw some balls keepinglow, while others flying off after hitting the deck. There were sidewaysmovement from the cracks when pacer Ishant Sharma was bowling from the Old Clubhouse end.
The wicket has typical Kotla characteristics -- slightlyslow and is likely to keep low and will turn as the match progresses.
With cracks on it, the pitch would provide ample turn to theIndian spinners as the hosts try to inflict a rare series whitewash on theAustralians.
Expected to play truant during the match, the Indianspinners is likely to enjoy themselves on a bald, dry surface.
Former India mainstay, VVS Laxman, while commentating,described it as "looking like a third-day pitch" and batting shouldprove more and more difficult as the match progresses.
Another former India player, Ravi Shastri said that the Testmight be a "three-day" affair during his pitch report before thestart of the play.
Former Pakistan captain and noted commentator, Ramiz Rajasaid, "Earlier, it looked like a three-day wicket to me but now itsopening up as the match is progressing.
"It would be too early to predict the nature of thepitch. There are cracks, which will provide good turn to the spinners. We needto wait and see before commenting on its nature," he told PTI.
There were instances when the Australian batsmen found theirshot-making difficult.
During the fifth over bowled by medium-pacer BhuvneshwarKumar, the fourth ball of the over hit the crack and broke away to make openerEd Cowan play and then beat his edge. The ball hit the puff of dust beforemoving away.
Another instance came in the 21st over of the innings whenIshant Sharma was bowling to Phillip Hughes.
It was a vicious delivery that hit the grill of Hughes'helmet from a length after taking the steep bounce. The ball was slightly shortof length, which took off after hitting the deck and crashed into his helmet,making Hughes jump in the air to counter that with feet parallel to the ground.
The delivery unnerved Hughes big time and the same over sawthe end of his innings when Ishant disturbed the timbers of the batsman for 45.
With a pitch like this, Australia's chances ofavoiding a series whitewash looks slim.