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| October 20, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 26, 1427 |
Sticky solution found for Mumbai pitch
MUMBAI, Oct 19: Glue will be sprayed on to the controversial Brabourne Stadium pitch after it was condemned by South African skipper Graeme Smith following his team's Champions Trophy defeat to New Zealand.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Thursday that a glue, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), will be used on the Cricket Club of India (CCI) pitch ahead of Friday's match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
The decision was taken on Thursday following an inspection of pitches at the venue by ICC grounds consultant Andy Atkinson, after concerns over their lasting qualities.
“The glue will be sprayed onto the pitch in the morning in order to bind the surface together and make sure that it lasts 100 overs so that conditions remain consistent throughout the match,” said Atkinson.
“This procedure has been used before with good results in New Zealand and at Old Trafford in England so we are confident it will be successful.
“It is not a panacea – it will not make a bad pitch into a good pitch – but it has been proven to be an effective method of preventing pitches from disintegrating as the game goes along.
Smith hit out at the state of the pitch after his side lost by 87 runs to the Black Caps New Zealand in the Champions Trophy on Monday.
The Kiwis had been bowled out for just 195 but fought back to dismiss the powerful South Africans for 108.
“It's always tough to sit and moan about a wicket when you've lost, but in terms of an international tournament I don't think the wicket was of a good standard,” said Smith, South Africa's top scorer in the game with 42.
“The pitch deteriorated as the day went along. Batting second was very, very difficult. The pitch broke up, the ball turned a hell of a lot. I don't think the pitches are going to provide a 100 overs of good cricket.”
On Friday, five litres of the glue will be mixed with ten litres of water and will be sprayed evenly over the full length of the pitch.
The ICC said it the procedure will also be used for the Champions Trophy final, to be staged at the same venue on November 5.
“I am just here to help the ground staff,” added Atkinson, who had previous undertaken a series of visits to all the Champions Trophy venues in the six months leading up to the start of the tournament.—AFP
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