SOMSHUVRA LAHA

CAPE TOWN: India shifted camp to the Newlands stadium after two days of training at the Western Province Cricket Club to find a lush Test match pitch and an almost bare but bouncy practice wicket waiting for them on Tuesday.

With just two days to go for the first Test, the pitch is generating a lot of speculation as to how it might behave. A lot depends on the conditions though. Fickle weather in Cape Town means a long patch of sunshine can be immediately followed by overcast conditions. And that maybe of some concern.

According to Newlands chief curator Evan Flynt, there is no doubt about the pitch South Africa wants — a strip that will assist pace and seam bowling. Proper watering of the pitch thus becomes very important. The groundsmen have been allowed to use borehole water but the unseasonal rains over the holidays too have been of help.

Normally the Newlands pitch is slightly damp and on the slower side on the first day of a Test. As it dries up, the pitch becomes faster and there is more bounce on offer. Tuesday was cool and breezy but with two days of hot weather predicted, the challenge is to prevent the top soil from drying up quickly.

The pitch could end up assisting seam movement, but India seemed more concerned about the bounce.

At different times, batting coach Sanjay Bangar was seen using a tennis racquet to lob