by Indian curators are up to their old tricks again! The photo shows the third test ground, which looks decidedly green: “A 10-year-old could prepare such a pile”
From Indore came images of another patchwork presentation being prepared by Indian curators ahead of the third test in Australia.
AAP reporter Oliver Caffrey shared the first photos of the Indore pitch with the caption “look at all that grass in Indore”.
The middle of the pitch is enticingly green, but Australian bowlers looking to get something out of the wicket will be disappointed as both ends of the pitch are as barren and dry as the Simpson Desert.
This is going to be the next great turner.
To make matters worse, there is footage of barefoot workers using a heavy roller to break up grassy spots, leaving little left for the bowlers when the game kicks off on Wednesday.
The overhead shot shows a green patch in the middle, dry ends and a team of Indian caretakers working on the field
The green spot in the center is being hard-trained by the roller
Cricket fans were honest at the site of a patchwork pitch designed solely to help Indian chiropractors.
“So India really doesn’t have land, man, because technically it’s not a cricket ground?” A 10 year old could do this shit,” one fan wrote.
“Wait 48 hours and the grass will turn red,” wrote another.
“India 3:0 loading,” added another.
While the grassy midfield may tempt the Aussies to play faster bowlers, options are limited as captain Pat Cummins returns home to Australia to be with his sick mother while Josh Hazlewood has been sidelined with an injury.
To bolster the Aussies, all-rounder Cameron Green and pace leader Mitchell Starc will return from toe injuries and could be the pace options introduced in Indore.
There will be some level of discomfort for a while, I don’t think it will be 100 percent for a while,” Starc told Indore on Monday.
“But the ball comes out pretty nice and I feel like I’m almost at full capacity.
“It wouldn’t be the first test match I’ve played with some discomfort.
“If I only played when I was 100 percent ready, I would only play five or ten tests.
“I’m happy with where it is and over the last 10 or 12 years I’ve built up enough of a pain threshold to deal with it.”
Starc is back in bowling, reinforcing the Aussies and set to replace Pat Cummins in the Aussies attack
Footage has also surfaced of Starc doing a reverse swing on the nets in Indore and is convinced the body is ready for use.
“I had 10 days off when I first got injured and have been bowling ever since,” said Starc.
“In terms of the workload, in terms of the body, I’m not concerned at all, I’m comfortable and enjoying where my numbers are, where my body is getting ready for this series.
“I’m very happy with where it’s all at now, it’s just a skill execution after a break in play.”
The Australians are taking no chances ahead of their third test by introducing Indian Cricview Academy leg spinner Sahil Tyaga to net throwing.
Tyagi is an emerging Indian talent and has spent many hours bowling with some of Australia’s best, including Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
