Don't expect a typical hard and bouncy Mohali wicket for the second Test beginning from October 17. Daljit Singh, the Mohali curator, has let out the warning well in advance, saying the wicket this time around would be somewhat different from its usual seam-friendly nature.
And he blames the irregular rains, which the town had been experiencing until the start of this month, for the change. "The unexpected heavy rains left us with little time to work on wicket and ground. We have tried our best to produce a pitch that suits all, but don't expect a regular Mohali wicket this time around," said Daljit Singh.
However, he said, the wicket will offer consistent bounce, even though the hardness and 'carry' would be missing. "The pacers will still be able to extract something out of it," he said.
As for spinners, the curator doesn't have much encouraging to offer. "There will be nothing in it for finger spinners, but the wrist spinners could extract some bounce from the track," Daljit said.
And if it actually turns out that way, the Indian think-tank might be tempted into having a re-look on their bowling options.
{{/usCountry}}And if it actually turns out that way, the Indian think-tank might be tempted into having a re-look on their bowling options.
{{/usCountry}}Security beefed up
PTI adds: OVER 700 police personnel would be deployed as a fool-proof security measure for the second cricket Test between India and Australia at PCA stadium here from October 17.
"Keeping in view the security threat and the recent terror attacks in different parts of the country, we have made tight security arrangements and 700 policemen will be deployed in and around the stadium," Mohali's police chief Jatinder Singh Aulakh said on Tuesday.
BCCI Treasurer and PCA's Secretary M P Pandove said the association would also depute its private security guards.
"We want to assure the spectators that they can enjoy a good Test match here," Pandove said.