Friday’s second ODI between Australia and India shapes as a high run-scoring contest, with the Rajkot ground one of the most unique in world cricket.
Australia are bracing for a high-scoring date with India at one of cricket’s most unique venues in Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
The Aussies arrived to Rajkot’s new venue for the first time on Thursday to the sight of four elderly women scrubbing the pitch with hard hand-held brushes.
The practice is believed to be used to remove grass clippings, before the pitch is again mowed to ensure it will be rock hard for Friday’s second ODI.
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Acts resembling this are commonplace across some Asian grounds, but it’s outside the boundary where those similarities stop at the spacious and impressive venue which was built in 2013.
Behind the practice nets where Australia trained runs a dirt road and rugged terrain, which motorbikes charged down at different times on match eve.
The solar-powered stadium’s media box to left of the nets is designed off the famous Lord’s UFO look, and sits high over the ground.
One stand has a roof looking similar to those famous at the Adelaide Oval, while there is a hint of the WACA’s light tower design.
The vast majority of the 28,000 seats in the ground are free standing plastic chairs, similar to those you would expect at a beachside takeaway shop or domestic barbecue.
Each are laid out in rows to give the effect of a normal seating set up, except that they can easily be picked up and moved individually.
The dressing rooms are far more cosy, with some comparing it to the MCG with large cushioned seats.
On the field though, it is most comfortable for batsmen. In Twenty20 cricket the average run rate sits at 9.20 in the three matches played there, with the boundaries on the shorter side.
The ground also has average of 42 runs per wicket across all formats – the highest of any venue in India. It means the bowlers know it won’t be easy.
“You see with a lot of the scores throughout India, particularly at the small grounds like Mumbai and Bangalore, they’re quite high-scoring,” Australia’s spinner Adam Zampa said.
“You know you’re going to get hit to the fence sometimes, it’s just about simplifying it, playing your role.”
Australia have played just one match at the venue before, in a Twenty20 loss to India in 2013.
Aaron Finch is the only survivor from that team set to feature in Friday’s match.
Paul
Roar Guru
agreed, but seemingly they're not a problem. Maybe they think the people who sit in 'em, don't have the strength to rip off a leg, without doing something nasty like a hernia!
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Hmmm. Rip a leg off one of those and you've got yourself a pretty good weapon.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Really enjoyed the article with a focus on the identity of a ground I know nothing about. Looking forward to watching the game and seeing the features described. Cheers
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
what where the brushes millet or metal? They are obviously worried about the Australian pace attack. If Australia have to set a total on a belter I would be worried with Langer and his side. Isn;t this is in a dry area of India so is the dew a factor.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Scrubbing the pitch with hand-held brushes. I’m sure it’s got nothing to do with making it as spin-friendly as possible and less conducive to bounce from Cummins.
Paul
Roar Guru
it's likely to be a reason, but bear in mind places like Adelaide have a hill and people can still bring in chairs, albeit those small aluminium fold up jobs.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Yes, of course. I guess I'm just not pessimistic and/or cynical enough to think of these things first thing in the morning. It's usually not until morning tea all that starts to kick in :unhappy:
Paul
Roar Guru
I reckon the side winning the toss would want to chase, because I reckon trying to set a par score would be difficult, given the numbers mentioned in the article.
Paul
Roar Guru
can you imagine what the fun police would say if this was even suggested in Australia, Bob? "We can't have that because people will throw these chairs when they riot" and other equally silly comments.
McBumbler
Guest
Would love to see us beet India in their own playground Kolhi and co will be under enormous pressure to beet us or face the wrath of their media Hoping the AUS openers can repeat and go big but history says one of them will get a <10 run score Would love to see Ashton Turner go large and lock his spot in Smith and Marnus can be the middle order glue we need This XI is starting to look rock solid and im glad the selectors have picked a side full of non-sluggers. The maxwell experiment is officially over. If Zampa can repeat and keep his hands off Stoinis for 5 minutes we are sitting in a dominating position. Agar is the future.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I quite like the idea of being able to move your seat around. There are probably good reasons we don't do that in Australia but I can't think of any off the top of my head.