One might as well take the pitch out of the equation given the ease with which India have run through most of their opponents to reach the semi-final of this World Cup.
Having said that, not every team would be like Sri Lanka — one of India’s favourite punching bags — nor like the Englishmen who have at best made a half-hearted effort right through the tournament.
And when the opposition is South Africa, which too, barring one hiccup against the Netherlands, have decimated most of their opponents, the conditions do need to be taken into account when India face Temba Bavuma and Co. this Sunday at the Eden.
It was learnt that the pitch for Sunday will be the one which was in use last Saturday for the Bangladesh-Netherlands game. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) ground staff had prepared another fresh wicket, but sources revealed that this surface will not be used as the association then has to further reduce the number of seats at the Club House lower tier keeping the sightscreen in mind.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s chief curator, Ashish Bhowmick, too, is in town and oversaw the preparation of the three Eden pitches.
“It’s more or less decided that the pitch used for last Saturday’s game will be the one for the India-South Africa clash.
“There will be something in it for the bowlers, but (it) will obviously favour the batsmen more. Not too much on offer for the spinners, but the home team (India) shouldn’t be too worried about the surface,” a member of the CAB grounds committee said on Thursday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also had a look at the pitch on Thursday. “It’ll be a good wicket. Typical Eden wicket... Will help batters,” Sourav told reporters.
The pitch for last Saturday’s game did have something in it for the quicks while the odd delivery from spinners turned with extra bounce. Though Bangladesh’s batting, in pursuit of a 230-run target, was pathetic, scoring 300 or more batting first wasn’t easy either on that surface.
That pitch did have a little bit of grass on it, but it won’t be surprising if there’s even a lesser amount of green on Sunday.
Like India, South Africa too have most of their bases covered, so they too shouldn’t be too unhappy with the conditions at the Eden. For the last six years or so, in all formats, the Eden pitches have come across as quite sporting.
One hopes Sunday too will not be any different.
