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Pitch preparation affected by showers

S. Dinakar

Kumble is grappling with a sore shoulder

— Photo: S. Subramanium

Keen as ever: Anil Kumble, who has trouble with his shoulder, took part in the team’s practice session in Mohali.

Mohali: It rained hard here on Tuesday night. The man from the ground-staff called it a thunderstorm. From a cricketing perspective, this was bad news.

Showers before the Test have hurt the preparation of the pitch for the second Border-Gavaskar Test beginning Friday although bright sunshine greeted the cricketers when they practised on Wednesday. Cricketing fortunes too can change as quickly as the weather.

Anil Kumble comprehends much about the uncertain path that a cricketing journey often is.

The skipper had an unproductive first Test, is grappling with a sore shoulder and is rather unhappy with sections of the media for speculating.

Kumble did not bowl during the Indian nets but batted. “He’s still feeling some pain. We are watching him closely. He is a warrior and is very keen to play,” said coach Gary Kirsten.

Significant

Then Kirsten said something significant — “You don’t judge someone over one Test but over long periods of time. Kumble is one of the greatest Indian cricketers I have come across. I am sure he will come back with a match-winning performance.”

The pitch in Mohali traditionally helps the seamers before settling into a good batting pitch. In the later stages, there is assistance for the spin bowlers.

India is exploring the option of fielding a third paceman in Munaf Patel.

“We are looking at the various possibilities. We don’t have to make that decision yet.

“We will have another look at the pitch tomorrow,” said Kirsten.

Whom would Munaf replace if he is inducted in the eleven? Interesting question.

Talking about pacemen, Kirsten focussed on Zaheer Khan. “He’s got tremendous belief now. He’s become intelligent, knows how to bowl on different wickets and conditions. He is bowling as well with the new ball as the old with a lot of variations.”

Team spirit

The prospect of defeating world champion Australia was “the greatest catalyst” for India, said Kirsten.

He stressed the team spirit in the side.

“No one is talking of individual records. They are speaking about what they can do as a unit. In all my years of playing against India or now coaching the side, I have never come across such a united Indian side.”

He was happy that all the top six batsmen spent time in the middle during the first Test and believed they were on to bigger things in the second Test.

Brett Lee would be steaming in to prevent the Indian batsmen from building edifices.

“I was happy with the way the ball came out of the hand in the first Test. I looked at the pitch here and it appeared to be hard. There should be more bounce and carry here,” he added.

Clark’s injury concern

His pace partner Stuart Clark has an injury concern — a sore left elbow. Clark did not bowl at the nets on Wednesday but Lee said this was part of a quick-fix recovery programme. “It was decided that he would not be bowling today. But he would do so tomorrow.”

Lee spoke about India not attempting a possible win on the final day after a bold Australian declaration and how the Aussies took more out of the first Test.

The paceman, in a lighter vein, hoped Sachin Tendulkar would not get to the World record in the ongoing series — the maestro is 14 runs behind Brian Lara’s record for the highest run-getter in Tests.

He then acknowledged, “You judge where you stand in world cricket by bowling to someone like him.”

Lee highlighted the use of cross seam to get one side of the ball rougher — this would assist reverse swing — and bowling with the wicketkeeper and the slips standing closer because of lesser bounce and carry than in Australia.

Resultantly, the pacemen are forced to bowl a wicket-to-wicket line rather than probing relentlessly outside the off-stump and search for edges.

The surface at Mohali could be different.

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