The BCCI has responded quickly to skipper M S Dhoni’s demand for a pitch with “turn and bounce” after India’s first Test win on the “slow and low” Motera track, says a report in The Indian Express, adding that three days before the Mumbai Test, the board has asked state associations hosting the remaining three Tests and the two T20s — starting with Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) — to prepare rank turners.
“We have asked the curators to cooperate with whatever demands the Indian captain has regarding the pitches for the Tests and T20s against England,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express. Curators of two venues confirmed that they had received instructions from the board.
Dhoni had complained about the pitches in the two Tests against New Zealand earlier this year, even though India had won 2-0. He had demanded wickets that would assist his spinners from the very beginning.
“When the wicket seams right from the first delivery, nobody asks questions. What you don’t want is ridges in the wicket. The only way to take the toss out of the equation is to have pitches that turn right from the start,” Dhoni said in Ahmedabad on Monday.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Dhoni’s outburst doesn't seem to have gone down well with anyone — be it former players or curators. “It was really surprising to read Dhoni asking curators to doctor the pitches. It's really negative to the game. If you want to be the best in the world, you got to take all conditions and not always ask for conditions that suit your style of play,” said Steve Waugh, the former Australian skipper who led the team to great success in different conditions.
In 2001, Waugh wasn't amused that rank turners awaited Australia on the India tour, but the pitches played brilliantly in what turned out to be one of the most memorable series in Test history. On Tuesday, Waugh said: “I captained the side for 57 matches and never once had a word with the curator about what sort of pitch we were going to play.” That's a privilege curators in India have never enjoyed. They generally have had captains and assorted officials arm-twisting them into preparing certain type of wickets.
However, the veteran of 168 Tests said that India were the favourites to win the four-match rubber against England, says a report in Deccan Chronicle.
"India are a strong side, always hard to beat in India and some of the young players are coming through, which is great sign for Indian cricket. (Cheteshwar) Pujara getting a double century, Virat Kohli, (Pragyan) Ojha taking wickets, it is great for Indian cricket.
"You got to have to turn out of this, no players are bigger than the game, someone will always step up. Sometimes you get too carried away that experienced players are irreplaceable but the natural thing will happen, someone will step up to play and take that role. India will will win this series, I think they will win it 3-0 because the pitches will suit their team," the 47-year-old said.