The last three Test matches played in India were dreary draws. On each occasion batsmen dominated. Will the second Test between India and South Africa, starting in Ahmedabad on Thursday, be any different?
If pitch curator Dhiraj Parsana is to be believed, then the wicket at the Sardar Patel stadium in Motera should produce a result. The former Test player says the 22-yard strip will have something in it for both, bowlers and batsmen.
"This is a sporting wicket. By sporting wicket I mean that on the first two days there will be good bounce and some help for the seamers, but after that it will be good for batting. And, with such hot weather, the wicket is bound to dry quickly; so the spinners should definitely get some help from day three onwards," Parsana told rediff.com.
Indeed, a result-oriented wicket is the need of the hour. With the forthcoming Indian Premier League already taking some sheen off the series, the second Test needs five days of entertaining cricket to bring the crowds back.
The first Test of the ongoing series, at the M A Chidambaran stadium in Chennai, saw empty stands throughout, except the fourth day, when people came in expecting Virender Sehwag to score 400. The dashing batsman could only score a memorable 319, which, in the end, was of little consequence, as batsmen from both teams gorged on the pitch and never looked like getting out once they settled down.
A look at the last three Test matches played in India makes interesting reading: India vs Pakistan, second Test, Kolkata (1470 runs for the loss of 23 wickets); India vs Pakistan, third Test (1609 runs for the loss of 33 wickets); India vs South Africa, first Test, Chennai (1498 runs for the loss of 25 wickets).
Parsana is confident that the strip he has prepared could halt the run of draws in the country. He, however, revealed that since the advent of Twenty20 cricket everyone wants batsman-friendly pitches.
"Today times have changed; whether it is a Test, ODI or Twenty20, match expectations have increased as far as pitches are concerned," he said.
India though can look back at their last match in Ahmedabad go into the second Test with much optimism. The spin duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh had then taken 17 wickets between themselves as India routed Sri Lanka by 259 runs. They also boast of an impressive record at this venue. Kumble has taken 35 wickets in six matches, at an average of 25.31, while Harbhajan has claimed 22 wickets in four Tests, at 26.09.
India won three matches and ended up losing one out of eight they played at the Sardar Patel stadium. They lost the first ever Test at the venue, to the West Indies in 1983-84 by 13 runs.
India and South Africa played just one match at the venue, in November 1996, when the hosts claimed a 64-run victory, courtesy Javagal Srinath's brilliant spell of six for 21 in the second innings.
Parsana added that there is a good covering of grass on the strip and fast bowlers should get some help for the first few sessions, at least.
Asked if he will shave off the grass, if the Indian team management demands, he declared: "I have not received any demand, and don't entertain demands."
