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| November 29, 2006 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 7, 1427 |
Adelaide pitch to crack up, says groundsman
ADELAIDE, Nov 28: The Adelaide Oval pitch for Friday's second Ashes cricket Test will crack up progressively during the match, favouring spinners, groundsman Les Burdett said Tuesday.
The Adelaide pitch traditionally favours early pace and bounce, and then extensive spin on days four and five, and there will be little different during the second Test, Burdett said.
However, Burdett said extreme heat -- 38C (100F) is forecast Wednesday -- may affect his pitch preparations, ahead of a change to cooler temperatures predicted for the eve of the Test.
“When you do prepare a pitch you put the grass under extreme stress, so a point where if you over roll them you can take them to wilting point, where it just collapses,” he said.
“The pitch will crack, and it will open up, but it won't be excessive unless the temperatures get excessive.
“This one will play really similarly to the last three or four years, on a pitch where everyone gets a go on it, the fast bowlers, slow bowlers and the batters can play their shots.” The Adelaide pitch on which England played South Australia a week ago was notable for its lack of pace, something Australian squad member Shaun Tait said was unlikely to be repeated.
“It was pretty dead the pitch we played on against England a week ago but I think there'll usually be a bit in it early and it will be reasonably pacey early on,” Tait said.”—AFP
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