Kolkata, November 11: Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee has expressed confidence that the pitch for the upcoming first Test between India and South Africa will provide a fair contest between bat and ball.
The much-awaited first Test of the two-match series will begin on Friday in Kolkata.
“The pitch will be good. It will be a good sporting wicket. As the days progress, there will be turn. There will be bounce. But everybody – batter, bowler – there is something for everybody on this pitch,” Sujan Mukherjee was quoted as saying by India Today on Tuesday after India’s optional practice session.
He further explained that home teams usually prefer conditions that suit their strengths.
“The chat with the team like every home team. See, if you go to Australia, there will be bounce. Likewise, Indian teams ask for a bit of turn. Not much, but they ask for a bit of turn,” he added.
However, several media reports suggest that the Indian team management was not completely satisfied with the surface. The pitch reportedly looked brown with light patches of grass, and sources indicated that it is unlikely to change much before the game begins.
The opening Test is crucial for both teams in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. India are currently third on the points table with a percentage of 61.90%, after drawing 2-2 in England and defeating the West Indies 2-0 at home earlier this year.
On the other hand South Africa, the defending WTC champions, are placed fourth with a 50% points percentage following a 1-1 series draw against Pakistan.
