BCCI plans to hire ground with fast pitch in South Africa for training

Following the decision to cancel India’s two-day practice match at Eurolux Boland Park, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is planning to hire a ground in South Africa ahead of the first Test, which starts at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on January 5.

The operations wing of the board is also planning to lay a fast pitch and have a centre-wicket to practice for five-six days starting December 29. The Indian team is scheduled to leave Mumbai on December 27 night and will reach Cape Town the next day.

BCCI officials are scheduled to reach South Africa prior to the Indian team, to make the required arrangements from hiring the ground to the preparation of the pitch. The team management has requested the board to send four young pacers to help Indian batsmen prepare in the South African conditions, which are expected to assist swing and seam bowling.

In a bid to comply with the request, the board have agreed to send the extra bowlers for good part of the three-Test tour. Hyderabad’s Mohammad Siraj, Madhya Pradesh’s Avesh Khan, UP’s Ankit Rajpoot and Kerala’s Basil Thampi, have all been identified by the team management.

BCCI not keen to waste precious days

The cancellation of Indian team’s two-day practice match against a Cricket South Africa XI hasn’t been done on a whim. Although the team will go into the first Test without a warm-up game but the team management is prepared for the situation. And now it appears to be a blessing in disguise as having own net sessions implies that the Indian team will have tailor-made practice sessions in desired conditions.

A source privy to the developments was quoted by Mumbai Mirror as saying, “What is the point in having a practice match where we can’t have anything productive? It will be waste of two precious days as we know the opposition will field medium pacers and lay a flat wicket. Instead, we want to make our own preparations.”