Chepauk expected to be run-fest for 1st India vs Australia ODI

With the exciting bilateral ODI series between India and Australia set to begin this week, former chief curator, M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, K. Parthasarathy revealed the nature of the pitch that will be used to play the series opener at Chepauk. He said that it will be a batting wicket but not out and out flat, as the par score in his view should be around 280-300.

However, on Tuesday, Australia defied the par score and went on to plunder 347 runs against a young, inexperienced Board President’s (BP) XI at the same venue winning by 103 runs as a result. Despite the fact that Steve Smith & Co. successfully warmed up for their ODI series against India with a crushing win against BP XI, the target will not be the same for the match on Sunday, reckons the former curator.

Asked why he thought that wouldn’t be the case in the 1st ODI, Parthasarathy, who now works as a consultant with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) said, “The warm-up match was played on wicket no. 6 — the side wicket. That wasn’t a 350 surface either. It had more to do with how our boys played. The first ODI though will be on the No. 4 wicket. That’s the central wicket. We provide that pitch for most international matches.”

“We’re giving the square some top dressing for now,” he added, reported SportsStar.

Because the weather in Chennai is a key determinant of how the pitch plays, and with mercury touching the 33-degree mark – maintenance is a challenge. With slight rain predicted on Sunday, the challenge gets tougher. “We’re watering the pitch and we want to roll it after that. But if it rains (suddenly) then we’ve to bring the covers out which hampers our preparation,” the veteran curator said.

The crowd may have been sparse during Tuesday’s warm-up match but come Sunday, the stadium could well be a full-house. And, it looks like the hallowed MAC turf promises a run fest.