With series tied 1-1 at the moment, Ranchi test starting today between Australia and India promises to be an interesting one.
The DRS and sledging controversy was barely resolved when questions were raised about the pitch at Ranchi.
It all began with comments of pitch curator, SB Singh who said the Indian captain will be able to choose from available three pitches.
“Each of them will behave differently. The team will choose the strip two days before the match,” said curator SB Singh.
“The pitch will suit both the batsmen and bowlers and will definitely last five days.”
However, as news spread, Mr Singh claimed miscommunication over Ranchi pitch claims.
“It’s true that we have prepared three pitches — No.4, 5 and 7 — for the match,” he said in an interview with Times of India.
“But I have never said anything about Kohli being allowed to have his say on the pitch for the match.”
In the recent times, questions have been raised about the quality of the Ranchi pitch but Australian skipper Steve Smith says his team will just have to adapt and play according to what the Ranchi wicket entails when the third Test against India gets underway later today.
Smith said Australian batsmen are ready to fire after the 75-run loss in the second Test in Bangalore.
He says the Ranchi surface is expected to be consistently slow and low, without the variable bounce on offer in the second Test but says the batsmen and bowlers will just have to adjust to it.
This also means the toss will once again become a key factor in the outcome of this match.
Ashwin and Jadeja would again be expected to spearhead the Indian spin bowling attack and it will be upon Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Steven O’Keefe to bowl few magical spells to destabilise the Indian batting line-up which seems to have got its composure and techniques together to play the spinners effortlessly.
Meanwhile there have been some changes in the Australian squad. Australian team will have 2 new members playing in this test. Mitchell Marsh has been replaced by Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc has been replaced by Pat Cummins. Murali Vijay may replace Abhinav Mukund if he completely recovers from his shoulder injury.
Match begins at 3pm AEST on Thursday.
With AAP
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