Australian media goes on the offensive ahead of Ranchi Test
MUMBAI: After the pitch of the first Test against Australia in Pune was rated as ‘poor’ by the ICC match referee and the pitch for the second Test in Bangalore was declared ‘below average’, the condition of the Ranchi pitch has become a major talking point ahead of the third Test beginning on Thursday.
While Indian media has been fairly impartial in its observances, Australian counterparts have gone on the offensive in detailing the presumably extreme conditions of the pitch.
On Wednesday, HT reported that SP Singh, the local curator of the Jharkhand States Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium, had refrained from expressly stating that the pitch would last a full five days.
HT’s inspection of the pitch divulged that it was parched in few patches and bound by dead grass, but was also well rolled. The pitch had been watered just before team India came out to practice which left it with dark brown patches that might have looked worse than they actually were; the appearance after watering could have been down to the high clay content.
The curator was also seen checking the bounce of the track after consultation with India coach Anil Kumble. From the state of the turf two days before the match, it is expected that it will be a slow pitch and that few deliveries will keep low.
It also seemed to be a pitch which would assist spinners.
Having seen pitches described as unseen back home by the Australian media, visiting news agencies are not holding back in their assessment of the Ranchi pitch.