India’s brazen curators are keeping all options open for the fourth Test, preparing two potential pitches for the Border-Gavaskar series finale in Ahmedabad.
Australia remain uncertain about the pitch they will play on at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium for the Test against India, starting on Thursday.
India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma both had lengthy inspections of the centre wicket when the hosts trained at the Ahmedabad ground on Tuesday.
Acting Australia captain Steve Smith was none the wiser when speaking on Wednesday.
“I can’t remember it being the case,” Smith said of ever not knowing which pitch he would be playing on so close to a match starting.
“It might have been a couple of (pitches) prepared maybe a bit longer out than two days but I can’t remember two days.”
Pitch discussion has been a constant during the first three Tests, with India purposely rolling out spin-friendly surfaces to suit their chances of toppling Australia.
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But those tactics backfired during the third Test in Indore as Australia pulled off an upset nine-wicket win in a match that ended early on day three.
Travis Head and Steve Smith inspect the pitch in Ahmedabad. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Spin accounted for 26 of the 31 wickets taken at Holkar Stadium, leading to the International Cricket Council [ICC] slapping the pitch with the dreaded “poor” rating.
After the match, Sharma backed India’s decision to demand curators prepare heavily spinning pitches that make it difficult for batters to play on.
Officials in Indian team uniforms have been spotted out near the centre wicket for extended periods ahead of all three Tests so far in Nagpur, Delhi and Indore.
“We want to play to our strength at home and not worry what the people outside are talking about. Our strength is spin and our batting depth,” he said. “People have to play well for the game to last for five days.
“Games are not lasting for five days even outside India.”
The president of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association [MPCA], Abhilash Khandeka, said Indore had been treated unfairly for the state of the pitch.
Indore was a last-minute choice to host the third Test after the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] on February 12 deemed the ground in Dharamsala to be unsuitable for the match.
“Two curators from BCCI had come eight to 10 days before the match. The pitch was prepared under their supervision. The MPCA had no role in making the pitch,” Khandeka told The Times of India this week.
“I want to make it clear that just like any other state board association in international matches, MPCA has no role in making the pitch.
“BCCI curators come and they get the direction from BCCI along with the Indian team management.
“I’m surprised it has been rated as poor because it produced a good result. Spinners have prevailed in the match. ICC report has surprised me.”
The first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series have failed to go into a fourth day.
Match referee Chris Broad wasted no time handing down his pitch verdict, with the ICC confirming the “poor” rating about seven hours after Australia won.
Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates taking the wicket of Umesh Yadav. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start,” Broad said.
“The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match.”
The BCCI has 14 days to decide whether to appeal the sanction. Indian media reports have declared the BCCI will likely challenge the rating.
Poor ratings for pitches cost venues three demerit points, with any ground that accrues five demerits over a five-year period in danger of being banned from hosting international cricket for 12 months.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Simple. Bragging rights.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
A draw or loss makes no difference to India’s WTC qualification - with either of those results they can be knocked out with a Sri Lanka 2-0 win (and nothing less than that). Only a win guarantees qualification.
Ivor Biggin
Roar Rookie
I frankly can't see why. To me, the WTC Final is a contrived, artificial idea that proves nothing. I certainly won't be dancing in the streets if Australia win, as it is only one game. The true "champion" test side has to dominate for 2-3 consecutive years against all-comers.
Ivor Biggin
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right, DTM. That mob will stop at nothing to win, and the only answer is for the rest of the cricket world to have the Niagaras to isolate them.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Two pitches or a dual carriageway?
DTM
Roar Rookie
“Two curators from BCCI had come eight to 10 days before the match. The pitch was prepared under their supervision. The MPCA had no role in making the pitch,” So the BCCI can fly in curators to make the pitch how they want it but we cant have independent curators? These antics of the BCCI will kill test cricket in India as countries will soon refuse to go.
Linphoma
Guest
Yep. The smorgasbord. My Swedish sister-in-law always insists. But enough about the deck. Play what is in front of you.
Lukestar
Roar Rookie
Two pitches for the price of 1. But wait there's more. You get a set of steak knifes. The Demtel test with your host Tim Shaw.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
It's being reported that the centre wickets are being prepared for the IPL and the test wicket will be well over on the western side of the square with the boundaries and sight screens adjusted to suit. So even in India T20 takes precedence like the Big Bash did for our test preparation. :angry:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
So if 26 out of 30 wickets get taken by the pace attack its all normal and good ? Its definitely a seamers World out there .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Oh yea the Test Championship the holy grail they need to win this test match to make it. The importance of this upcoming test is so much more significant, spot on Matth :thumbup:
Phil
Guest
2 Pitches ? Well, they effectively did that in the first test anyway, and created a different pitch for right and left handers. After the ICC did nothing about it, I assume they have just taken the next logical step and prepared 2 completely different tracks for this test. One minefield for us to bat on, and a road for them.
matth
Roar Guru
I think they have a super dry pitch and one they've been watering in case they were 3 nil up and wanted to use it for practice for England (Rohit mentioned this). now that they have to win, they will go the dry one again.
Titch
Guest
Perhaps the Indians will be looking to produce a wicket that suits their batsmen more than their bowlers given they can't handle our spinners.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing the pitch they decide on won't spin so much... :laughing:
JamesH
Roar Guru
A high-scoring draw would definitely suit India. It shuts the door on Sri Lanka, as unlikely as it is that they will beat NZ 2-0
Ouch
Roar Rookie
i guess the WTC final is priority for India now
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The two pitches is also amusing, 1 must be poor & the other just above being sanctioned. A conundrum for India. Amusing for us Aussies it’s like watching a woman’s mud wrestling bout in slow motion! :stoked:
Linphoma
Guest
Either a turner - risky since the Kuhny/GOAT/Smurf found their stuff; or a road, with India winning the toss and plodding to 600. If Smith calls correct and bats Australia will set maybe 400 so a draw is a safe result for the home side and correct me if I'm wrong, squeezes them into the WTC decider.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Enough about the pitches. When the Aussies bat with patience and intelligence, they are as capable as the Indian batsmen on these wickets. The GOAT Murphy and Kuhnemann are matching the Indian spinners. hanging for this game to get underway