The pitch for the second Test in Delhi is already causing dramas days before a ball is bowled with groundstaff trying to ban Australian media banned from taking photos of the wicket.
And it looks like the groundstaff have prepared a surface with readymade rough on a good length for spinners, which is expected to suit the home side’s three-pronged arsenal of Ravichandran Aswhin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
The spinning trio tore through Australia in Nagpur last week on a pitch which was prepared to have a dry area outside the off stump for left-handers at both ends.
This time around, the Delhi pitch also looks to have a flat area through the middle of the wicket for the seamers to land their shorter-length deliveries and then what NewsCorp reporter Peter Lalor described as “a crack house” for full-length balls.
Groundstaff on Wednesday also tried to prevent accredited Australian media members from taking photos of the wicket, according to The Age.
After a media member was initially told to be at least 30 metres away from the centre square, they were then instructed to go to the boundary and not take any footage at all.
It was a moot point as the Getty photographer had already taken photos of the pitch as the Australians trained nearby on another pitch on the centre square.
The Australians train at Delhi two pitches away from the centre-wicket Test strip. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc had a searching hit-out as he tried to prove he is ready to make a return from a finger injury. Speaking to media, he believed the pitches the team have prepared on in the lead-up to the Test will be similar to how the main strip behaves in the Test itself.
“It looks pretty dry. The groundsman said the nets look pretty similar and the two days we trained on were really low and took a lot of turn,” Starc told reporters. “If that’s an indication, then that’s what it’s going to be like.
“Having a look the last couple of days it looks like it’s prepared pretty similar as well.”
The dry wicket could count against Starc’s chances of a recall with Australia looking at bringing in spin bolter Matt Kuhnemann alongside Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, particularly if all-rounder Cameron Green is cleared to make a comeback from his broken finger.
Batters from both teams were down on all fours inspecting the wicket with India also training at the ground on Wednesday.
The Australian batters appeared spooked by the conditions at Nagpur even though the pitch turned out to be nowhere near the raging turner it had been made out to be in the lead-up to the match.
Australia must avoid defeat in the second Test to have any chance of wresting back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India before the series moves to Indore and Ahmedabad.
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India have not lost a Test at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium since 1987.
“Obviously a challenge of a week but we move onto the second Test and it presents a new challenge,” Starc said. “I’m not sure we’ll see conditions change too much from last week with how the guys have discussed it.”
Australia boldly dropped Travis Head, the world’s No.4 batter, for the first Test based on his poor record in Asia.
Peter Handscomb, in his first Test since 2019, performed serviceably at No.6, but Matt Renshaw had a nightmare match with scores of 0 and 2 batting in Head’s usual position.
varun sharma
Roar Rookie
hmmmm what it has to do with cricket?
Frank Delosa
Guest
I love how the media is allowed to see the pitch in every other country except for the "delicate genius" that is India. Predicting a 2.1 day test. The stadium looks like it is stuck in the 1970s and could collapse at any moment. I wonder what kind of food and drink they serve there? Would a tourist be welcome or beaten in the crowd? such pomp and wonder! Such dander! Hurry up 3pm lets play ball!!!!
Ad-O
Guest
Seriously, I dont see the problem. India are allowed to produce turners just as much as Australia is allowed to produce hard, bouncy green tops. The onus is on Australia to produce spinners and batsman that can build an innings when the ball moves off straight. Just like India have developed players that have seen them succeed in Australian conditions.
mrl
Roar Rookie
And in the 21st century India finally realised you could get running water to those who need it…not just the rich F..ks
whymuds
Roar Rookie
mrl - you might be interested to know that in the 21st century, India has hosted 102 matches. India has lost the toss 54 times for 7 losses, 14 draws and 33 wins. Of the 48 times we have won the toss, our record is 4 losses, 13 draws and 31 wins.
whymuds
Roar Rookie
Yeah I would love to see that. India are lucky enough to have 20+ international grounds. Imagine a future where each ground has unique characteristics that favour different types of bowling that could nurture aspiring spin, pace and swing bowlers and allow batsmen to fine tune their craft under different playing conditions, day and night. Our pace brigade can match it with the best. Even if it means losing more matches at home, the days of relying on spin in India should be over. It might even mean more overseas wins in SENA.
Lukestar
Roar Rookie
Hoselink it.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
"Everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the face." Mike Tyson
Tony Harper
Editor
I reckon they'll both have to play on it at the start of the day too
GP
Guest
It is what it is. Both teams have to play on it at the end of the day
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: Honestly that pitch is worse than my front lawn. Maybe they could move the test from delhi to my yard?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
The problem with that plan is that our spinners are basically tripe!
GP
Guest
nut bad, nut bad...
GP
Guest
Seems they are working fine at the conclusion of the test...
GP
Guest
Unfortunately the Eng D/N test as a disaster for many reasons. 1. Covid, and a solid outbreak was running around the country just before vaccines were being rolled out. 2. That test lasted 2 days.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I remember a tour or two back in Australia, they railed against the pink ball test. Those conditions suited our quicks, but India now have a stable of really good quicks of their own. I reckon they could produce a terrific Australian-type wicket at home, start with 3 quicks and a spinner and still win all/most of those tests.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
The poor fellas must be having some sort of problem with their sprinklers . I've got a spare I could send over
whymuds
Roar Rookie
India has hosted 2 d/n tests - against Eng and Bang. Don't know official attendance but watching highlights it looks like they were well attended. The game against Bang, all the wickets Ind took were by our pace bowlers. The game against Eng was a low scoring minefield where spinners did all the damage.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Perfect scenario for the Aussies to play 3 spinners and just have Uzzy, Marnus and Smudge to ton-up. Add in the 70 off 60 balls from Travis Head and the series is locked up at one all!
Cam
Roar Rookie
I can't recall, have they played pink-ball tests in India? Sounds like it would suit the conditions and spectators.