BENGALURU: The Pune wicket for the first Test between India and Australia has drawn much flak. The match ended in three days, but Australia are surely not complaining as they comprehensively defeated India.
Australia captain Steve Smith is obviously not complaining, but the Indians will obviously not be happy. That is why, for the second Test that begins here on Saturday, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is not prepared to take any chances. They are preparing a sporting wicket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that is expected to last five days.
“We are giving the teams a sporting wicket. We want to see the match go on till the fifth day. After seeing what happened in Pune, we do not want to take a chance,” said KSCA Secretary Sudhakar Rao. The outfield was completely renovated not very long ago, but the pitch has not been touched.
An advanced drainage system was also installed. Only one international match has since been played — the third T20I between India and England on February 1 — on the pitch since.
The Bengaluru wicket has generally favoured batsmen in the shorter formats of the game, but KSCA is determined to ensure that it is playable and the public get their fill of Test cricket.
“We started preparation of the pitch about 10-12 days ago, and we are preparing a typical Test track. On the first two days, there should be help for batsmen and seamers. There will be slow turn as well. What we want to do is give advantage to batsmen and bowlers alike. When we give such a wicket, it is left to the players as to how they do,” Rao explained.
“We have told our curator to try and prepare a good wicket, according to how a Test wicket should be. Our curators are experienced. In fact, K Sriram had prepared the wicket for the India-England match in Visakhapatnam, and the match lasted five days. Sometimes, there may be a request from the home team, but we will do our best for a good wicket,” he added. Rao also said that the outfield has been coming up well, and that it should make for a great five days of Test cricket.
Former Karnataka Ranji captain J Arun Kumar has ample experience at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He feels the key will be concentration while playing here.
“Batsmen will need to concentrate. The conditions will aid swing,” he explained.
“The first half is usually important, and there could be four to five wickets between the start and lunch. Playing the first session well will be very crucial. The ball does seam around a little bit here,” he stated.
“The wickets were different when we played. There are different tracks that behave differently and it depends on what wicket they choose.”
It looks like a five-day pitch will be prepared. If not, there might be more embarrassing moments in store for the India.
vivekphadnis@newindianexpress.com