In the aftermath of the Eden Garden pitch criticism, the Indian management has asked for a true surface in Guwahati. With the India vs South Africa 2nd Test starting on November 22 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, it’s expected that the pitch in Guwahati will offer pace and bounce.
India asks for ‘true pitch’ in Guwahati
According to the Times of India, a red soil surface will be used. For the uninformed, unlike the black soil pitch, which was used in Kolkata, red soil tracks offer consistent bounce and don’t break early. This means spin would likely come into the game at the latter stage, unlike the first Test.
The Indian management has informed Ashish Bhowmick, who happens to be Guwahati and BCCI’s head curator, of their requirement. The board doesn’t want the ‘rage turner tag’ to be equated with Guwahati, since it’s hosting his first-ever Test match. That’s why pace and bounce are what’s expected for the second South Africa Test.
If the ball spins as well, it’ll be at pace and bounce. This won’t make life easy for Indian batters, but it’s better than what happened in Kolkata. The BCCI is also making sure there isn’t any invariable bounce from the first day itself.
It’s common knowledge that pitches break in India and batters struggle due to inconsistent bounce. However, that has historically happened from day three onwards. That wasn’t what happened at Eden Gardens. The board doesn’t want a Kolkata repeat in Guwahati.
“The pitch here is made of red soil, which has the tendency to offer more pace and bounce. The Indian team had made their demands clear before the home season. So, if the pitch offers turn, it will turn at pace and bounce. The curators are trying to ensure there is no substantial variable bounce,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
