Interesting move on Mumbi pitch

Shafin · #1 October 20, 2006, 07:55 PM

ICC finds sticky solution for Mumbai pitch
Agence France-Presse . Mumbai
Glue will be sprayed on to the controversial Brabourne stadium pitch after it was condemned by South African skipper Graeme Smith following his team’s Champions Trophy defeat to New Zealand.
The International Cricket Council said Thursday that a glue, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), will be used on the Cricket Club of India pitch ahead of Friday’s match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The decision was taken on Thursday following an inspection of pitches at the venue by ICC grounds consultant Andy Atkinson, after concerns over their lasting qualities.
‘The glue will be sprayed onto the pitch in the morning in order to bind the surface together and make sure that it lasts 100 overs so that conditions remain consistent throughout the match,’ said Atkinson.
‘This procedure has been used before with good results in New Zealand and at Old Trafford in England so we are confident it will be successful.
‘It is not a panacea – it will not make a bad pitch into a good pitch – but it has been proven to be an effective method of preventing pitches from disintegrating as the game goes along.
Smith hit out at the state of the pitch after his side lost by 87 runs to the Black Caps New Zealand in the Champions Trophy on Monday.
The Kiwis had been bowled out for just 195 but fought back to dismiss the powerful South Africans for 108.
‘It’s always tough to sit and moan about a wicket when you’ve lost, but in terms of an international tournament I don’t think the wicket was of a good standard today,’ said Smith, South Africa’s top scorer in the game with 42.
‘The pitch deteriorated as the day went along. Batting second was very, very difficult. The pitch broke up, the ball turned a hell of a lot. I don’t think the pitches are going to provide a 100-over of good cricket.’
On Friday, five litres of the glue will be mixed with ten litres of water and will be sprayed evenly over the full length of the pitch.
The ICC said it the procedure will also be used for the Champions Trophy final, to be staged at the same venue on November 5.
‘I am just here to help the ground staff,’ added Atkinson, who had previous undertaken a series of visits to all the Champions Trophy venues in the six months leading up to the start of the tournament.
‘They do a very good job and the ground is looking in marvellous condition.
‘There was a fantastic match here between Australia and the West Indies and we are looking forward to more great cricket for the rest of the tournament.’

SMHasan · #2 October 21, 2006, 09:33 AM

These low scoring matces are really boring. No excitement, no rythom nothing. Simply ennoying.

**Tehsin** · #3 October 21, 2006, 10:07 AM

It continues on today. England 169 off 45 overs. NZ scored 165 yesterday.
BD's performance was questioned after we were bundled for 160-odd against West Indies. Looks like it was the BCCI pitches that should have been and continue to be the focus. However, since most sports writers are from india, you don't see that outrage. Can you imagine the outlash if the champions trophy was hosted by Bangladesh and the pitch was this sub standard?

With the recent decline in India's short lived (#2 ODI slot) status in the ODI standings, looks like BCCI is simply out there to (un)even the playing fields. After all, they have a history of making 'interesting' pitches to assist the home side. We all know how India used to (and still do on occasion) struggle in their away series/matches.

prasad · #4 October 21, 2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

With the recent decline in India's short lived (#2 ODI slot) status in the ODI standings, looks like BCCI is simply out there to (un)even the playing fields. After all, they have a history of making 'interesting' pitches to assist the home side. We all know how India used to (and still do on occasion) struggle in their away series/matches.

thats a nice spin on it.lol.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #5 October 21, 2006, 12:47 PM

eto bochor dhore cricket kheilao ekta pitch banaite pare na...loser shala!

bharat · #6 October 21, 2006, 01:57 PM

common guys ..you cant be serious !!

If that makes you happy !!

**Tehsin** · #7 October 22, 2006, 08:35 PM

bharat - it does makes me happy.

Seriously, India does have a very good team and I am surprised with their recent showing. Tendu is still the best batsmen ever.

As for BCCI, they are pathetic and irresponsible. The pitch has nothing to do with the cricket team but shows the utter unprofessionalism of BCCI. Unfortunately, they are too busy playing BIG BROTHER to world cricket, forgetting that they were once struggling to gain ground in world cricket.

**Tehsin** · #8 October 22, 2006, 08:47 PM

Interesting move off the pitch:

Low turnout in the Bangladesh matches were used as an excuse by BCCI to not host BD in the near future. Does anyone know if BCCI actually tracked the number of spectators in each match ? Are those information available to general public. It sounds as if apart from the India and Pakistan matches, the rest of the matches failed to generate much interest among the locals. Am I to assume that BCCI will stop hosting the rest of the teams as well ?

Spitfire_x86 · #9 October 23, 2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tehsin
Am I to assume that BCCI will stop hosting the rest of the teams as well ?

Well, BCCI has been speaking against Champions Trophy for some time, and hosted this year's event because they had to.

They're only interested in arranging meaningless 5-7 match ODI serieses with Pakistan and other top ranked test nations.

Sovik · #10 October 23, 2006, 11:48 AM

"This [poor crowd turnout] makes me wonder if cricket is a religion in India? Let me rephrase it then: it's Indian cricket that is a religion in India."
Sanjay Manjrekar with a few home truths
"Cricket in India is not a religion, as has been said, nor is one-day cricket. Only one-day cricket involving India attracts public attention."
Journalist Scyld Berry goes a step further than Manjrekar