Six millimeters of grass will be used on the pitch, according to Hough, the head curator of the pitch at the venue, ahead of the pink-ball Adelaide Test between India and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the Adelaide Test kicks off on December 6, the Indian side has come to the venue with a mental edge and strain, following the dominance in early tests led by Jasprit Bumrah in both bowling and captaincy. However, the visitors will also be looking to banish the ghosts of the unmentionable 2020 Adelaide pink-ball Test, which saw them skittle for their lowest Test score of 36 runs. Pat Cummins (4/21) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8) caused a massive collapse in batting for India, letting Australia chase down a mere 90 runs.
During a pre-match press conference, commenting on pitch and grass cover, Hough said: “Everything seems to stay the same. Of course, it is grass with deep, good moisture, dry and hard, even grass cover. So quicks can get something there, spinners will be able to get a little bit of bite and turn and bounce. But importantly for us to get some partnerships in the players and the players to be able to play their shots. It should be around six. Currently, we are at seven, but I reckon it will be six millimeters.”
However, Hough said, it would get difficult indeed to bat under lights with a new ball at least in the midst of such quality bowling attacks that both the teams possess, even as the ground staff would strive to produce a pitch fine enough to bring about a contest between bat and ball.
On the possible evolution of the pitch with the progress of the match much like during the Perth Test going from hard to easy to bat upon, Hough mentioned that while he cannot predict that the pitch will change, one always wants pitches to change in Test cricket.
This pitch in Adelaide will supposedly do enough for pace and spin under the new ball, and not leave much time for the batters once the ball ages.
“In fact, one does not want it to be a little different. Obviously, its going to change over the course of four or five days of play. Testing has been a bit of a challenge, though, for drop-in pitches.”
“There is no doubt about it because they hold together magnificently,” he said. Traditionally, it should do enough with a new ball throughout the Adelaide Test-a ball that should continue to grip your feet and bounce and spin throughout play. But as the ball gets older, hopefully batters can manage something similar to partnerships and make some runs,” he added.
