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[jks61]

Courtesy Tribune
Rahul, Chappell carry out pitch inspection
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 6
Shortly after their arrival here, Indian coach Greg Chappell and skipper Rahul Dravid visited the PCA Stadium, the venue of the second India-England Test beginning on March 9, and carried out a pitch inspection.

Mr I.S. Bindra, President, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), Mr M.P. Pandove, Honorary Secretary, and the curator, Mr Daljit Singh, accompanied the duo to the 22-yard track.

Sources said both the skipper and the coach were satisfied with the three pitches offered by the PCA for the match. They also tentatively selected one of them for the Test. However, the final decision on the selection of the pitch will be taken tomorrow by the team management.

[devatha]

However, the final decision on the selection of the pitch will be taken tomorrow by the team management.

What? RD always says "we play on whatever wicket that has been given to us."

[justforkix]

Green could fade in the white sun
 
Second Test Seamers are likely to benefit more than tweakers at Mohali, but ...
 
SANDEEP NARAYAN
 
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 6 Coming out of the Matthew Hoggard effect at Nagpur, there remains, yet, a greenish tinge of trouble at the PCA stadium wicket at Mohali. The second Test pitch still sports grass, and traditionally help has always been available for seamers early in a Test.
The positive is that with the heat gaining ground, that advantage might not last for long as the grass gives way.

Team India skipper Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell paid a visit to the ground, enquiring on the health and prospects of the strip, though curator Daljit Singh wasn’t forthcoming on what the skipper-coach duo’s prescription was. That the pitch needs a bit of tweaking — considering the English pacers’ success on a flat Nagpur wicket — seems natural, but no details of Indian interests emerge.

At the GVK Taj Hotel here today Dravid and Chappell were in a long discussion over lunch. When they left for the stadium a probable blueprint on the way the Hoggards, the Flintoffs, the Harmisons and even the Panesars should be handled from Thursday much have taken shape.

At the PCA there were inquiries over the weather and the outfield, and the centre wicket especially, and about the results and trends of three Ranji Trophy matches played there last season.

To recall, speedsters had a good time during the Ranji Trophy matches. The match between hosts Punjab and Services saw as many as 17 wickets tumble in a day! The caution notwithstanding, there seems to be an emphasis on preparing a result-yielding wicket.

PCA secretary MP Pandove said he had prepared a “result-oriented” wicket. “The wicket should give a result,” he said.

The sun, though, could provide assistance to the spinners late in the match. A number of permutation and combinations emerge as to the attack composition of the Indian team. Munaf Patel is now available, so is Piyush Chawla. Of course, local boy VRV Singh, who could be pretty much aware of the vagaries of the pitch at Mohali, is out. S. Sreesunth will also be the strong point, Irfan Pathan being the common factor as is R.P. Singh.

It was learnt that while Chappell has expressed no view on how the pitch should be, Dravid too was not averse to idea of having some grass on the wicket.

Meanwhile, English coach Duncal Fletcher looked relaxed and talked about the team being “confident and having a settled look” now.
 
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=89104

[justforkix]

devatha : The report doesen't say which team management 

[devatha]

The pitch has some dead grass on it. So may be helpful for the seamers early on & hope that the bounce remains till 4th & 5th day. Bounce is helpful to all the players (fast bowlers, spinners & the batsmen).

[gouravk]

Im not hopeful. Most likely a draw.