Getting the right pitch

Having tested the players’ patience with its unpredictable bounce last season, the cricket pitch at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is getting a new surface to host the India-England one-day international slated for January 15 next year.

 The first phase of preparations to relay the centre square, comprising five wickets, is nearing completion, with fresh grass being planted.

 “The work to relay the centre square will be completed this weekend,” KCA curator P V Ramachandran told City Express on Monday.

 “Grass has already been planted on three wickets.

 The other two wickets are being laid with clay brought from Hyderabad.

 That particular work will be over by Wednesday.

 Once grass is planted on all five pitches, the primary phase will be over.

 It will be left for a curing period of one-and-a-half months.

 The secondary phase will involve tending to the growth of the grass.

” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) south zone curator P R Vishwanathan had visited the stadium on Sunday.

 “Vishwanathan has expressed satisfaction on the progress of the work.

 We are carrying out the relaying work strictly on the basis of BCCI’s Pitches and Grounds Committee recommendations,” said the KCA curator.

 While the work on the wickets began a month ago, rolling is set to begin in November.

 “Rolling will begin around November 15.

 After a week of rolling, the wickets will be ready for testing.

 The square will be closed again by December 15 for the final phase of preparations.

 The plan is to ready three pitches for the ODI,” said Ramachandran.

 The work on the outfield is progressing simultaneously.

 “The new sprinkler system has already been installed and now we don’t have any problem with ensuring water supply to every part of the field,” said the curator.

 Meanwhile, Ernakulam District Cricket Association secretary Jayesh George said that practice matches involving the state teams will be held to test the nature of the pitches.

 “We are planning to get the Kerala Ranji Trophy and other age-group teams to play practice matches at the JN Stadium.

 That will help us gauge the quality of the new wickets,” Jayesh said.

 During the last Ranji Trophy season, three matches were held on low-bounce pitches with the ball almost scooting along on the last couple of days of the four-day matches.

 This season, following the ODI, the inter-zone Deodhar Trophy limited overs cricket tournament is also scheduled to be played at the venue, in March.