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Sporting wicket at Motera: Curator
Harish Kotian in Ahmedabad |
December 16, 2005 21:45 IST
Anil Kumble [Images] may have single-handedly destroyed the Sri Lankans in the second Test at the Kotla in Delhi, but curator Dhiraj Parsana believes the ace leg-spinner will not be able to repeat the showing in Ahmedabad.
"Kumble thrives on low bounce pitches, but this pitch will have even bounce for all the five days. It could assist bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh [Images], who are renowned world-class spinners," Parsana said on Friday, ahead of the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka [Images], beginning on Sunday.
The former India Test player, in charge of the wicket at the Motera stadium, says he has prepared a sporting wicket that will assist both the batsmen and bowlers.
"The first hour of the first three days will help fast bowlers. Then, after the second or third day, it will take slow turn."
However, he stated that good fast bowlers would be able to extract help from the pitch on all five days, while batsman would also relish the ball coming on to the bat.
Asked what a team should opt for on winning the toss, he replied: "The team that wins the toss should elect to bat."
The last three matches at the venue ended in draws, but Parsana is confident that will not repeat this time.
"It's a definite result-oriented wicket. Compared to Delhi, this pitch will offer consistent stump level bounce."
The third Test was shifted to Ahmedabad at the last minute after Kanpur expressed its inability to host the match.