The Indian cricket team is set to embark on a tour of Australia towards the end of this year, where they will compete in a five-match Test series. This series stands out as the most crucial segment of Team India’s Test calendar for the year. The Indian team has made history by winning Test series on the last two tours to Australia, and they are determined to achieve a hat-trick this time around. In both previous series, the role of fast bowlers was pivotal, and this time will be no different. However, an important question arises: who will support Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj among the pace attack? To find an answer to that, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has selected a relatively unknown venue for the Duleep Trophy matches, one that mimics the conditions found in Australia.
Start of the Domestic Season: Duleep Trophy
The domestic cricket season in India will kick-off with the Duleep Trophy matches starting September 5, featuring four teams – India A, B, C, and D. This tournament is not only viewed as preparation for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, beginning September 19, but the BCCI is also laying the groundwork for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will commence three months later. Thus, most of the players who are part of the Test squad have been included in these teams to ensure they are match-fit.
India’s Fastest Pitch
After a hiatus of almost eleven years, first-class cricket will return to Anantapur, a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Located about 100 kilometers from Bangalore, this venue has only hosted one match in the past eleven years, in 2018, but will now witness high-quality domestic cricket featuring several players from the Indian Test and ODI teams. The question arises as to why the BCCI has suddenly chosen this relatively obscure location, especially considering that the nearest airport is over 100 kilometers away. The answer lies in the pitch quality available here.
Anantapur: The Fast Bowler’s Haven
Reports from Indian Express suggest that the Anantapur ground is considered a fortress for India’s fastest pitches. Even though no major cricket has taken place here in the last eleven years, before that, it was known for hosting first-class matches for around a decade, where fast bowlers dominated, wreaking havoc on batsmen. Statistics reveal that between 2004 and 2013, in 15 first-class matches hosted on this ground, fast bowlers claimed 345 wickets compared to merely 96 by spinners. Such a statistic may not hold true for any other cricket ground in India.
Pitches Comparable to Perth and Adelaide
Operational support from an NGO, with assistance from the Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association, has transformed this ground. The facilities were developed to promote mental and physical growth through sports among local communities, and the pitches were scientifically constructed using black soil similar to those in Australia and South Africa. This has imparted both speed and bounce, making them desirable for fast bowlers. Furthermore, the director of the managing organization, RDT, noted that the behavior of these pitches closely resembles those at Australian venues like Perth and Adelaide, well-known for their fast and bouncy characteristics.
Assessing Not Just Bowling, But Batting Too
Out of the six Duleep Trophy matches, five will be played on different pitches at Anantapur, while the first match will be played in Bangalore. The Indian board and selectors will closely monitor the performances of fast bowlers like Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, and Prasidh Krishna, as it is vital to spread the workload beyond just Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj. Particular attention will also be paid to the batting units, as it is equally essential for batsmen to withstand challenging conditions. Australia demands not only proficient fast bowlers but also batsmen who can robustly counter their pace attack.
Conclusion
The Duleep Trophy matches at Anantapur will serve as a crucial platform for both fast bowlers and batsmen to prepare for the upcoming tour to Australia. With the blend of pace-friendly pitches and competitive cricket, it promises to be an insightful season for the Indian cricketing fraternity.
