Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India vs Australia, 1st Test: Sanjay Manjrekar and Matthew Hayden predicted the Nagpur pitch is going to be a nightmare for the left-handed batters in the series opener.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 9, 2023 09:00 IST
Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India vs Australia 1st Test Nagpur pitch report (PTI/AP)
By India Today Web Desk: Sanjay Manjrekar and Matthew Hayden gave the pitch report for the first Test between India and Australia at Nagpur’s VCA stadium, saying that the wicket is going to be a nightmare for the left-handed batters in the series opener.
“My first reaction is the soil looks pretty rough. You can see the cracks as well, but because there is grass the cracks may stay intact. But the real talking point here is the rough area right here – the left-hander against the left-arm spinner, it’s going to be a nightmare for them because there is tremendous potential for the left-armer spinner,” says Sanjay Manjrekar in the pitch report.
Matthew Hayden echoes his thoughts. “This match could well finish early,” he says. “It’s not just this patch here (as Sanjay spoke about). It’s the other end as well. Check out the tone difference between here – on a hard length for fast bowlers – and on this danger area – the spinning zone. You’ve got rough, you’ve got shaved grass, and it’s ironic that the roller and the grass that was being cut here was just shavings of dust because it’s going to be a turner.”
Ian Healy sparked the controversy by claiming that the hosts would alter the pitch to suit their game plan, and several reports claimed that India was attempting to “doctor” the pitch. Cummins stated that the team would face difficulties because the conditions would be “tailored” for India.
After Healy’s remark turned to Nagpur’s pitch for the first India-Australia Test match. The pitch was expected to aid spinners, as is customary during Test matches, but what made matters interesting was how the pitch curators treated the 22 yards in Nagpur a day before the Test match. They only rolled the centre of the wicket after thoroughly watering it. Watering was increased outside the left-leg hander’s stump. This ploy perplexed the Australian team and the media, and it drew harsh criticism from former cricketers.
“These series always throw up different challenges on the field or off the field, and embracing it is what makes these tours so special. That’s part of the challenge of playing away. Home teams want to win at home. In Australia, we’re lucky we’ve normally got pace and bounce. Home match advantage, I don’t think it’s a terrible thing. It’s another challenge and makes touring over here even harder when you know the conditions are custom-made for them,” Cummins said.
