India v Australia: Third Test

[Occasional Fan]

Ganguly believes the pitch in Nagpur gives the advantage - perhaps even the game - to the Australians.

BBC report here.

[Mike Small]

The pitch this , the pitch that, can Gilchrist and Ganguly talk about something else - I'm getting bored. After soo much talk about the pitches in the first two tests both turned out to be good test match surfaces - I doubt this one wil be any different.

[Nikhil]

I do not think there is much in it at all. A typical Nagpur wicket is full of runs and I expect this one to be similar.

The team that wins toss tomorrow will still bat first (as they should). I expect this pitch to break down on days four and five. No one will want to bat on it then. Batting first and getting a good first inning score is the key. All this talk about the pitch being green is tosh IMO.

[Nikhil]

Here is what cricinfo thinks about the pitch link .

[Beny]

Indians just need to play

By Peter Roebuck
October 26, 2004

Nagpur is agog. Located in the exact centre of India and yet off the beaten track, it has been given few chances to stage international matches let alone a contest with the world champions.

Every city in India is desperate to stage matches, and money has been spent on improving amenities for everyone except the common spectator. Nagpur offers shelter, paint, organisation, an excellent batting pitch and outfield and almost overwhelming enthusiasm.

The spectators stood 30 deep in the public stands yesterday as the players were put through their paces. Policemen armed with bamboo lathis kept an eye upon the excited masses. Even the handball game played by the Indians was greeted with roars that peaked whenever Sachin Tendulkar touched the ball.

At times the players must have felt like Ravi Shankar, whose first notes at the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh in New York were so loudly applauded that he remarked, "Since you enjoyed the tuning up so much I am thinking that you will like the music". Every visitor found himself a subject of rapture and speculation. Your correspondent was variously mistaken for John Wright, Matthew Hayden's dad and Michael Clarke's pater. Not a bad trifecta as it happens.


Among the hosts, the chief bone of contention seemed to be the pitch. Of course, it is a distraction. Nagpur has prepared a wicket that resembles the surface in Adelaide, where India romped to victory thanks to splendid batting and crucial wickets taken by Tendulkar and Ajit Agarkar, both now back in the side. The Indians prodded and poked the pitch yesterday, none more assiduously than Harbhajan Singh, who seemed to think it needed a shave.

A debate began about the importance of changing team and batting order to accommodate a bouncier surface. It is all nonsense. India need to forget about pitches and umpires and all the rest and concentrate on playing to their own strengths, as they did recently in Leeds where Sourav Ganguly and his senior players defied pitch and tradition by batting first and playing both spinners. India won by the length of the straight. Selecting a cricket team involves choosing the six best batsmen, the leading keeper/batsman and the four most dangerous bowlers.

In any case, India may appreciate the pitch as much as their opponents. Since the pitch was reseeded with hybrid Bermuda, a grass often used on fairways, Nagpur has encouraged pace bowling and strokeplay. Australia's strategy is founded upon bowling at the stumps to a containing field. Scraping the grass from the pitch in Bangalore played into their hands because the home batsmen could not so easily cut loose.

Tendulkar averages 155 at this ground and will not be afraid. Rahul Dravid's parents-in-law hail from this neck of the woods so runs can be expected from him. Dravid is 59 runs shy of becoming the third Indian to score 7000 runs in Test cricket so he won't be holding back. His average of 57.36 confirms his calibre. Both spinners are in fine fettle and will appreciate the combination of bounce and turn available later in the contest. As much as anything it was lack of bounce that thwarted them in Chennai.

No changes are anticipated in the Australian line-up. Ricky Ponting intends to play next week, leaving Clarke and Darren Lehmann competing for the last batting position. Australian cricket is about as sentimental as a cut cobra. Brett Lee's gusto has been missed but the incumbents have been bowling well.

Presumably Adam Gilchrist and company will keep walking, thereby confounding the miseries. Cricket has enough on its plate with match fixing and racism allegations to fail to appreciate outbursts of honesty.

A fine match can be anticipated. Encouraged by the sight of a firm track, the pacemen will bend their backs but wickets may be hard to take once the shine has been removed.

Having staved off defeat in Chennai, the Australians will be in no mood to throw this match away. India may feel that their best chance lies on the turning track at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. A lot of runs may be scored but anything is possible in matches between these sides.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Mike Small

The pitch this , the pitch that, can Gilchrist and Ganguly talk about something else - I'm getting bored.

I agree! Surely the fact that Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh are out will be more significant for India.

[Maranello]

Yes seems that way....run-rate of over 4 an over, with most batsmen getting in and playing their shots... sounds like a good track, typical of most good sub-continental Test tracks

[Mike Small]

Aus 350 odd but sevon down - even stevens one can say more or less, or perhaps Aus are slightly ahead since Clarke still not out on 70 odd.

[Maranello]

Yeh Aus prob nudge it on points... though the fact that they scored so quickly takes the pressure off Indian batsmen to score quickly and force a result.. India, when they do bat, can afford to take it a bit more leisurely

[Nikhil]

Aussies clearly threw the advantage. They had Indian bolwers at their mercy with Martyn and Clarke at the crease. Three late wickets clearly took the edge out of the aussie effort. India must be greatful for the way Aussies batted. If they can restrict Australia to below 430 (, which is a par score on such a batting beauty), they must consider they still have a shout.

It's going to be difficult, but clearly possible.