Sporting picth ... Again ?

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Pitch leaves teams uneasy After a sleeping beauty in Chennai and a sporting pitch in Ahmedabad, it was always certain the Green Park would be a dust bowl, reports Anand Vasu. More... Pitch leaves teams uneasy Anand Vasu, Hindustan Times Kanpur, April 09, 2008 First Published: 23:19 IST(9/4/2008) Last Updated: 00:35 IST(10/4/2008) After a sleeping beauty in Chennai and a sporting pitch in Ahmedabad, and the result going rather emphatically in South Africa's favour, it was always certain the Green Park would be a dust bowl. Even with this in mind, the two sets of players who came to the ground were rather taken back by what they were faced with. When the wind blew across the ground, dust visibly flew off the surface of the pitch, and there's still two days to go for the start of the final Test. There are cracks visible on the surface and there's little doubt this pitch will break up, it's only a question of how quickly this will happen. Graeme Smith was the first of the two captains to have a look at the pitch, when his team arrived for practice in the morning. Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, who had made it out to the middle a little before his team, was not particularly impressed by what he saw and actually had a chat to Smith, asking him to take a deep breath and relax, warning him not to be too perturbed by what he saw. When the Indians showed up in the afternoon for practice, the situation was not too different. Gary Kirsten, who arrived well before the team did, inspected the pitch, and though he did not make any comments to media on what he thought, it is learnt that even he was taken aback, and did not remember when last – if ever – he had seen a first-day pitch that looked so worn. Anil Kumble then came and had a look, along with Chotelal, the curator, and observing the interaction between the two, it appeared that Kumble was not unhappy with what he saw. While the pitch here has largely been a slow turner, there was one instance when things were different. In 1983 the groundsman experimented with leaving some grass on the pitch and a rampant West Indian attack led by Malcolm Marshall routed India by an innings. The curator expectedly came in for sharp criticism and ever since there has been no live grass on the pitch here. This time around, though, it is difficult to predict with any degree of certainty what the pitch will do, as matches are not usually staged here at this time of the year. The extreme heat combined with the lack of live grass on the pitch mean that the cracks that are already in evidence could widen very early in the game. The effort has been to create a pitch with low bounce, with the ball coming through around knee height, on which India's batsmen should thrive, but at the same time offer some assistance to the spinners. However, pitch preparation is not such an exact science that a surface can be tailored to suit the strengths of one team while negating those of the other. The one thing both teams will gladly agree on is that no-one wants a pitch that is dangerous, where batsmen are in serious danger of being hit because of drastically varying bounce.

[Desi Cartman]

Kanpur: Even before the Indian team arrived for practice on Wednesday afternoon, the hue of the pitch at the Green Park stadium had undergone a dramatic change. There is no sign of the green tinge and whatever grass is on the wicket is just dead brown. All the statements by Daljit Singh, chairman of the pitches committee, to provide a sporting pitch like the one at Motera, were nothing but smoke screen. The pitch has surely undergone diabolic change, much to the wishes and liking of the home team. The first thing the South Africans did this morning was to inspect the pitch before starting their drills. It did not take long for smiles on their faces to vanish the moment they saw cracks on the wicket.:hysterical: Though South African coach Micky Arthur said that the team was expecting such a pitch in Kanpur after what had happened at Ahmedabad, yet one could notice the stunning effect on the team. Arthur put up a brave front saying that as the wicket is likely to deteriorate early in the match, the Indian batsmen would have tough time facing up to the South African pacemen on an uneven surface. I expect the wicket to go through the top, and on such a pitch our pace bowlers would be handful. Even otherwise we have two good spinners in Paul Harris and Robin Peterson. But we will decide on our options only after seeing the pitch on the eve of the match, Arthur said. Even before the teams had settled down in their respective rooms last evening, the curator and his staff were busy removing the grass from the surface. Besides, there has hardly been much watering over the last few days and only a light roller is being used over it. This is a clear indication that the BCCI has acceded to the wishes of the team management in their effort to level the series. The mood in the Indian camp which was glum till Tuesday, was a bit better on Wednesday knowing full well that they would not be tested on a Motera-type pitch here in the third and final Test from Friday. Yet a track to suit the Indian spinners does not guarantee success. That even the Indian team realises. Though the pitch plays a crucial part, yet the players have to perform at their optimum.:nervous:

[Akshat]

When the wind blew across the ground, dust visibly flew off the surface of the pitch, and there's still two days to go for the start of the final Test. There are cracks visible on the surface and there's little doubt this pitch will break up, it's only a question of how quickly this will happen.

Yet another dustbowl? Let us see how our struggling batsmen tackle the Saffie bowlers on this pitch! If Kumble is not 100%, I think we'll struggle here as well.

[Desi Cartman]

India Favorites India vs South Africa - 3rd Test India 2.37 South Africa 3.40 The Draw 2.75

[Desi Cartman]

Yet another dustbowl? Let us see how our struggling batsmen tackle the Saffie bowlers on this pitch! If Kumble is not 100%, I think we'll struggle here as well.

Bhajji will be enough for the Africans :dance::dance:

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

watching cricket matches played on dustbowls like kanpur is

[umpire]

wow, lets see SA can cope with this. Remember guys when we tour SA we will never be offered spin friendly track, but somehow we won in Jo'berg where the pitch was designed for SA pacemen. Lets see how SA cope up with designer pitch made for indian spinners.

[umpire]

Bring It On 3 spinners is way to go on the dustbowl. Lets unleash Kumble, Bhajji and Chawla on saffies. Now let us just win the toss, Mr. Kumble. Bring it On Kanpur test. We will win.

[umpire]

aao south africa ke bachho tumhe dikaye dustbowl hindustan ke, isme dekhe karamat bhajji kumble ke, ...... ye dharti hai dustbowl ki vande matram vande matram

[King]

Imagine if this backfires :D BTW with the dust bowls it's one step forwards and two backwards. After having worried the Aussie batsmen in Australia, most Indian fast bowlers will watch Ganguly take the new ball. I guess the cycle from mid 90s of Indian cricket has been reinvented. The very same administrators that have directed the curator to prepare the dust bowls will be complaining India isn't producing enough fast bowlers of quality to win overseas. Such is life.

[umpire]

>BTW with the dust bowls it's one step forwards and two backwards. After having worried the Aussie batsmen in Australia, most Indian fast bowlers will watch Ganguly take the new ball. I guess the cycle from mid 90s of Indian cricket has been reinvented. The very same administrators that have directed the curator to prepare the dust bowls will be complaining India isn't producing enough fast bowlers of quality to win overseas. Such is life. disagree, we have quite a few sporting tracks in our ranji set up.

[King]

>BTW with the dust bowls it's one step forwards and two backwards. After having worried the Aussie batsmen in Australia, most Indian fast bowlers will watch Ganguly take the new ball. I guess the cycle from mid 90s of Indian cricket has been reinvented. The very same administrators that have directed the curator to prepare the dust bowls will be complaining India isn't producing enough fast bowlers of quality to win overseas. Such is life. disagree, we have quite a few sporting tracks in our ranji set up.

What's the point having sporting tracks in domestic set up if one cannot back the very bowlers against an international side and provide them good enough track to test their skills? Meanwhile 3 spinners tactic will only work in India and Sri Lanka. Elsewhere the faster bowlers will get to ply their trade and if they cannot show enough form in a short tour they are going to be shafted. Just like RP got shafted for bowling badly in one test match (Chennai one was a farce anyways).

[King]

wow, lets see SA can cope with this. Remember guys when we tour SA we will never be offered spin friendly track, but somehow we won in Jo'berg where the pitch was designed for SA pacemen. Lets see how SA cope up with designer pitch made for indian spinners.

South Africa did prepare a slow turning pitch in the last test match but India couldn't stand up to Harris. Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were major culprits of that test match. Despite scoring over 400 in the first inning India failed to win that one.

[f.b.m]

what does f.b.m. stand for?

This Or this You choose.

[Dravid]

i thought it would be full blooded moron :hahaha: kidding... ahh... req, granted :D pitch gonna be a turner http://content-www.cricinfo.com/indvrsa/content/current/story/345807.html

[Chandan]

'India could be in deep trouble' Iqbal Khan April 10 2008 at 08:54AM An astonished Mickey Arthur cannot believe that India got what they asked for from the curator of the Green Park Stadium here for the third and final Test, starting on Friday. "If this is what they have asked for then I know on which side I'd like to be as this will go through the top on the first morning," he said. "I don't believe they realise what they are in for in this Test. If they get caught they could be in deep trouble - like they were in Ahmedabad, though I would consider that track to have been a better one than this dust bowl," said Arthur. "I'm not saying we did not expect a wicket like this - it was on the cards as the Indians are desperate. They are clutching at straws and do not know where to turn to at the moment." 'They could be in deep trouble.' Unlike India, the South Africans do not have any injuries and will make a final decision on their team later on Thursday. But one does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what combination they will play for this final Test. Being 1-0 up, the South Africans have realised that India are running scared of their quick bowlers and they will certainly use the same ploy to blast the home side's batting into oblivion. "I will still stick my neck out and say we have the bowlers to blow India away. Our quick bowlers have been outstanding and they are the ones we will bank on to get us through this Test once again," Arthur said. "While we have yet to decide on our combination I can confidently say it won't change from the one that has been on show for the past two Tests. "That's our best combination as it has worked successfully for us in these conditions and one has to go with what's workable and what brings you success." Meanwhile, India have put away their dancing shoes, forgotten about the IPL and banished from their thoughts their first innings 20/20 performance in Ahmedabad and have prepared in a more orderly manner for this encounter than they did in the last two Tests. It took a massive defeat for the Indians to realise they are up against a side who do not lie down easily and who do not let the grip of a Test slip through their hands easily. But in saying that they still have major injury problems in their ranks. Anil Kumble is nursing a groin injury, Ishant Sharma, who replaced the clumsy RP Singh, is struggling with his big toe, and now the best of their quick bowlers, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, has also joined the walking wounded. A final decision on their availability will be made later on Thursday. ---------------------------------------------- Once again I see that Arthur is almost threatening India here that his bowlers will get better of Indian batsmen here too. Nice to see someone challenging India so openly!!

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No instructions to curator: BCCI After the Motera's humiliation, BCCI denies issuing any instructions to the curator about the type of pitch to be prepared for the final Test in Kanpur. More... No instructions to curator on pitch: BCCI Press Trust Of India Kanpur, April 10, 2008 First Published: 21:05 IST(10/4/2008) Last Updated: 21:37 IST(10/4/2008) After the humiliation in Ahmedabad, the Green Park pitch sports a predictable dry look but BCCI on Thursday denied issuing any instructions to the curator about the type of surface to be prepared for the third and final cricket Test between India and South Africa. "BCCI has not given any instruction and it's for the Pitches (and Grounds) Committee to decide on the wicket. In this case also, no instructions were given," BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told reporters in Kanpur. The pitch at Motera, the venue for the second Test, provided some encouragement for the South African pacemen and they skittled out India for just 76 on the first morning of the match, which culminated in an innings and 90 run victory for the visitors. Shukla said that preparing the wicket was totally the prerogative of the curator."It is the curator only who has made the wicket," he added. The absence of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar for the second and third Tests of the series has put additional pressure on the hosts and Shukla was non-committal about his availability in the upcoming Indian Premier League, where he is scheduled to lead the Mumbai Indians. "Tendulkar is recovering from (groin) injury and if he is fully fit before the IPL begins, he will take part from the beginning," the BCCI vice-president said. Shukla reiterated IPL's stand on Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar that "till we get a clearance from PCB, he can't take part in the IPL." There were some security concerns about the Kanpur Test but Shukla sought to put them to rest. "Security has been beefed up for the match. All concerns have been addressed, security includes commandos." He, however, admitted the visitors had expressed certain worries about the situation. "The South African management had expressed concern about security and we have assured them that everything will be done to ensure that the match went off peacefully." Shukla, also the president of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, was not perturbed at the sluggish ticket sales for the match starting on Friday. "Kanpur never attracted a lot of crowd. It's known for free passes and so far only 6,000 tickets have been sold," he added

[Kartikey]

Piyush has to play with Bhajji and Jumbo.....

[Cricketics]

Just saw on NDtv that Sharma has been declared Fit to play in 3rd test.. yes

[umpire]

so our bowling attack will be Ishant Kumble Bhajji Chawla wwoooooooooooooooowoooooooooohhhhhhhhhowwwwwwwwwwwwwhoooooooooowhowwwwww