Test cricket’s maiden arrival in the Northeast, with the second India-South Africa contest at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati starting on Saturday, tags along a few quirks and potentially disconcerting tweaks.
The nip in the air could also offer a snag or two, neutralising the home team’s supposed familiarity with the conditions, just like an undercooked wicket did in Kolkata.
The first delivery is scheduled to land within a minute past 9 am. Overriding red-ball Test match conventions, an early Tea will be served at 11 am before the Lunch break at 1:20 pm, with the host board striving to accommodate as much of the Northeast’s fast-fading winter sunshine to accommodate the stipulated 90 overs each day.
It is unprecedented for a Test match in India, but not a novelty for the First-Class grind around these parts. For three winters now, the Mining Ground at Rangpo – hosting Sikkim’s home games – has witnessed 8:15 am Ranji Trophy starts. The piping-hot chai comes first at 10:15 am, before the rotis, daal, and the accompanying spread fill the room two hours later.
Earlier starts under cooler skies with moisture on the surface offer an extended phase for movement, a lip-smacking prospect for two quality pace attacks, and a premonition for top-order bats. Depending on the nature of the pitch and the uncommon geographical setting, the threat of movement in the air can return shortly before stumps, when the light fades out rapidly.
“With the early sunset and sundown, the start will certainly be under cooler weather conditions, and that will assist a little extra bit of movement. Wickets in Guwahati are generally good for red-ball matches, good flat wickets. There will be a lot of runs to be had,” says former Assam head coach RX Murali.
Stung by the 30-run Eden Gardens debacle, the ideal arrangement of the pitch and the combination will already be playing in India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s mind. Slip-ups can be fatal, spilling a can of worms on India’s formidable home Test mattress.
“The nature of movement off the pitch can vary with the wicket the team management opts for. Even if it is a 30-minute change, the early start can assist movement in the air for sustained periods, more than what may be on offer at other venues,” says Murali.
Despite being geographically positioned in a different solar time zone, Guwahati and the rest of the Northeast remain aligned to the Indian Standard Time (IST) meridian. Besides other daily constraints, the early beaming sun throws up conditions somewhat alien to cricketers from the rest of the country.
Attuned to the rigours around these parts, Sikkim batter Ankur Malik explains the customary disruption with the early sunrise.
“Our daily routines go for a toss during matches. We have to take breakfast quite early, by 6 am, since we have a 20-minute tea break after the first session,” Malik tells The Indian Express.
His captain Lee Yong Lepcha breaks down the on-field equation. “The bowling side is almost always favoured with these starts. The ball moves considerably more for a longer period. Interestingly, these conditions begin to reappear before sunset, around 3 pm, when batting gets difficult again with movement in cooler conditions.”
The circadian rhythm may be disrupted, but Lepcha expects it to be a negligible hassle for the 22 international pros who will take the field at the Barsapara.
“We start our days for such games usually with fruits and coffee at about 6 am. Coffee is important,” says Lepcha with a chuckle, while Malik pitches poha to keep it light.
“We only have a heavy break for lunch, and carry on with electrolytes and plenty of water in the morning session and just tea and biscuits for the first break.”
Besides Assam and Sikkim, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland also have the comforts of a true home base, although conditions can be perplexing for those unfamiliar.
“An 8:30 am start is rather unusual for us. That is the time we do our warm-ups in Chennai,” says India all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who switched from Tamil Nadu’s searing heat to Tripura ahead of the ongoing domestic season.
“It is a different but interesting challenge. You need to be really fresh for these early starts. The ball swings around a lot more at the start when it is overcast. And by 4:30 pm, it feels like 8 pm back home,” says Shankar.
The Kolkata minefield counted wickets by minutes and eventually took India down in less than three days. The first two full days saw 75 and 77 overs respectively. On a potentially truer surface, the wounded hosts will hope to reclaim lost pride, but Guwahati’s fleeting daylight could throw in another gauntlet for Gambhir and his boys in an unfamiliar backyard.
Early start will need players to rise earlier, reach the ground earlier and do warm-ups and training earlier
There is likely to be moisture in the air and on the pitch due to the early start, which could make batting tricky for longer
Light fades quickly towards the evening, limiting play in the third session
With cooler evenings, batting could get challenging towards the end of the day
With the lunch and tea breaks exchanging positions, players will need to adjust to the unique arrangement, as far as mindset and dietary intake are concerned
With a likelihood of less than 90 overs possible in a day, India – who have to force a win to square the home series – may be at a disadvantage
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