Pitch talk takes the shine off skills
Ranchi curator not convincing as he tries to explain how the track for the third Test, starting on Thursday, would behave
The pitch for the first Test against Australia in Pune was rated as ‘poor’ by the ICC match referee. The pitch for the Bangalore Test was ruled ‘below average’. With pitches proving to be the biggest botch up on what has been a keenly fought series till now, there is dire need for Ranchi to come up with a good surface for the third Test starting on Thursday. Strangely, there has been no assurance so far.
Given what has transpired over the last few days, local curator SB Singh was naturally the most sought after man by the media. However, not once did Singh confidently say the Ranchi pitch would last five days.
Instead, he tried to deflect attention to the ‘process’ that goes into improving the square and how a reserve pitch has also been prepared according to ICC rules, in case the main pitch is found unfit.
Why a curator would talk negatively about his pitch just two days before a venue’s first Test belies logic. But a look at the pitch threw some light. Appearing parched in a few patches, the fifth pitch in the square, which is designated for the Test, is bound by dead grass. It didn’t look well rolled. The groundsmen watering the pitch just before the India team came for practice only made it look worse from the press box, but that also had to do with the high clay content in the soil.
NOT ENCOURAGING
Between a flat pitch and a square turner, Ranchi doesn’t hold out much hope of a vastly different pitch for the third Test. After arriving, India coach Anil Kumble had a fairly long conversation with Singh while inspecting the pitch. Then the curator started the process of checking the bounce of the pitch at different places with a cricket ball. The results were not encouraging.
Spinners can be a menace in Ranchi. In the first Ranji Trophy match this season, 40 wickets fell in three days with Chhattisgarh thumping Tripura. Last season, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem’s 11 wicket s helped the hosts crush Himachal Pradesh.
It will be a slow pitch and a few deliveries might keep low even on the first day. Going by the turn R Ashwin extracted while rolling his arm over on the adjacent pitch, spin should play a major part here too.
Ranchi has also produced batting beauties. But those in the know claim this pitch was prepared afresh for the Test and should produce a result. Whether that will embarrass the BCCI more is the big question.