Adelaide Oval's pitch curator Damian Hough confirmed on December 4 that he has prepared a seamer-friendly surface for the pink-ball Test. Hough has left an even covering of 6mm grass and hopes that it will produce a good contest. He feels that the ball will move around but not because of the pitch but weather conditions.
"History suggests that it is hard to bat under lights in Adelaide. The pitch will have 6mm of grass. We are trying to produce a pitch that would be a good contest. The pitch did not play a part in the Test match finishing in 3 days last time India were here. I thought that it was really good bowling from Australia. As long as there is something in it for all aspects of the game, I am happy, I just want a good contest," Hough told the media a couple of days ahead of the second Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
"The ball hooping around has got nothing to do with the pitch. Under right conditions, right weather, the ball will move," he added.
Hough also expects rain to play spoilsport on Day 1. There is 88 per cent chances of rain on December 6. This will be a challenge for the side batting first. The batters may struggle to get their eye in and bowlers will have an advantage due to weather conditions. The challenging conditions may lead to the captain winning the toss opting to bowl first and try to cause a collapse.
What happened in previous Adelaide clash?
The last time India and Australia played a pink-ball Test at the venue, the visitors were bowled out for their lowest score of 36 in the second innings. In the first innings, India were bowled out for 244. Virat Kohli scored 74 runs before he was run out after a mix-up with Ajinkya Rahane. Indian bowlers were lethal as well and bowled out Australia for 191. However, Josh Hazlewood's five-wicket haul and Pat Cummins' four-fer helped hosts bundle out India for 36 in just 21.2 overs. Australia chased down the 90-run target with eight wickets in hand.
