Pitch Tales

A much as the game itself, the pitches across India have been in debate for the past few months. It’s not too different here at the Eden Gardens, where both teams trained their gaze on the pitch and were greeted by a dry strip at the centre.

• It’s the driest pitch I have seen here. In my time we have played two Test matches here (against Australia 2000-01 and vs West Indies 2002-03). But this time it looks drier than before. But we will take things as it comes. The pitches in India do take spin towards the fourth and fifth day. This looks no different
— John Wright

• It is the same one they used for the (India vs Pakistan) ODI recently. But it has had two weeks pass by. It is dry. But we will see how it goes
— Shaun Pollock

• Don’t worry. We won’t give you an underprepared pitch
— Probir Mukherjee (Curator)