Rains mar pitch preparation

Then, the first two days play were delayed due to untimely showers. Two West Indies greats, Gordon Greenidge and Vivian Richards made their debut. Greenidge was an instant hit (93 and 107) while Richards flopped (4 and 3), falling to BS Chandrasekar on both occasions.

Curator G Kasturi Rangan who has been with KSCA since its inception recalls: “We had shaved every bit of the grass. But the Windies pacemen, led by Andy Roberts, were too formidable. West Indies won by 267 runs.”

From those days, the playing conditions have changed drastically. The Stadium is now equipped with modern mopping facilities and the best of covers. It has become a permanent Test venue. Out of the 12 Tests played so far at this venue, seven have produced a result while five have ended in a draw.

And with the second Test of the current series on the anvil, a curious study of the pitch at the KSCA shows that it has usually helped the spinners.

“In earlier days, the pitches could not be manipulated once they were laid. They remained the same for at least two to three years. Now we can manipulate, but we usually don’t,” says Kasturi who has laid many pitches in India.

South Africa who won the first Test of the 1999-00 series at Mumbai on Saturday, play a Test match at this venue for the first time. According to Kasturi the pitch will hold firm until the last day of the match.

“So far we have no instruction from the Board regarding the preparation. As of now, it is expected to be a bouncy and sportive wicket while taking turn from the second day. I can assure you that it will not be a dangerous wicket,” said an optimistic Kasturi, a member of the Grounds and Pitches Committee of BCCI.