Question mark over Eden wicket

The fifth and final ODI at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday will be played on an untested pitch,which will pose a tricky decision for the two captains at the time of toss.

Thanks to inclement weather that saw Champions League T20 matches last month also being shifted out,curator Prabir Mukherjee got very little time to prepare the wicket for this game between India and England. With an extended monsoon in Kolkata this season,the soil below the upper surface is still wet which can make the wicket sluggish. The odd ball might also stop on the batsman and in late October,the dew factor is likely to come into play in the latter half of the game.

Mukherjee,however,claims that the 22-yard strip will play true,allowing the batsmen to play on the rise,while seam bowlers will get some lateral movement.

Some matches were played on the side wickets and the batsmen didnt face any problems. I rolled and watered the wickets very carefully to ensure that the top soil stays firm. I am confident that the wicket will last for 100 overs, Mukherjee said.

England last played an ODI at the Eden Gardens in 2002.