India vs New Zealand, 1st Test: Kanpur curator mulls preparing sporting wicket

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Kanpur curator mulls preparing sporting wicket

With hosts India set to take on visitors New Zealand in the first of the three-Test series at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from Thursday, it is being widely speculated that rain could well play spoil sport in the opening Test at the venue. It was not very far, when in August, India were deprived of a certain Test win over West Indies, when the fourth and final Test was washed out due to persistent rain along with poor drainage at Port of Spain, thus also depriving them of the No.1 spot in Test cricket. India are now just a point behind Pakistan, who are currently the No.1 Test side, as the Indians would be praying the rain gods to stay away from their business this time.

Kanpur has been under heavy spell of rain for the past few days, with persistent rain on Sunday depriving India of a complete training session. With rain expected again over the next three days, it would be interesting to see how the pitch behaves, as it could well turn out to be an advantage for the visiting New Zealand side. Meanwhile, curator Shiv Kumar has denied that he would be preparing a turning wicket, an instead insists on having a sporting track. “I am preparing a sporting wicket and not a square turner. It will turn, but from Day Three. Toss will be crucial as batting will be the easiest on the opening two days,” he said to Times of India.

He also added that further rain could result in serious change in the nature of the wicket, thus allowing lateral movement for the seamers, that would in turn benefit the visitors. He said that lack of sunshine and persistent rain had interrupted his steady progress in the preparation of the track as well. “We have the latest ground and pitch preparation facilities,” he said.