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[kban1]

Some of us know this, but an interesting and insighful article, none the less

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What the dew does over 22 yards
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=84438

India’s fourth day batting and the heavy roller theory
 
By Muralidharan k
 
Ahmedabad, December 21:
 Conventional wisdom says the most number of wickets fall on the fourth and fifth days of a Test. But here at the Motera, that happened on the second and third day. Indian spinners failed to get the regular breakthroughs, unlike in the first innings.
Chappell, at a press meet, termed the pitch as a ’dead’ one. The pitch had helped Harbhajan Singh take seven wickets in the first innings. Curator Dhiraj Parsana says this is because of the ‘‘the dew factor’’. He explains the complex pitch theory that deals with the dew, the roller and the moisture.

“When there is a bit of dew, the pitch tends to hold a bit of moisture, which helps the spin bowlers to get of bite and purchase from the wicket. Since the dew was comparatively less last night, the moisture content in the wicket was less.” That was also the reason behind India opting to bat for the fourth day too, as they could have the advantage of using the roller. The Indians did not use the roller to have the moisture content intact.

But less dew means the wicket becomes slower and easier for the batsmen. The Indian team management had planned to use a heavy roller on the second day, when VVS Laxman was unbeaten, and went on to score the century. He had indicated in the post-match conference that the decision was based on the first day’s play, when the moisture content in the pitch did not make it easy for batting.

“But on the second day, as we used a heavy roller, the ball came on nicely, making batting easier.” The spinners toiled hard on the pitch which offered slow turn and gave extra time for the batsmen. After the fall of the fourth wicket — Thilan Samarweera — the spinners did not get the breakthrough.

It was Ajit Agarkar, who got the wicket of Jayawardene, with a hint of reverse swing. Realising the lack of bite for the spinners, Sehwag brought on Irfan Pathan, who claimed the wicket of the impressive Tillekeratne Dilshan. At that time, both Agarkar and Pathan were bowling with an old ball.

But as soon as the new ball was taken, the spinners were on at both ends, so that they could get the ball to spin quicker off the wicket, in which they did not succeed the whole day. With the curator predicting less dew on Thursday, too, the spin bowlers will feel better as they just have the Sri Lankan lower-middle order and the tail to be content with.

The roller-dew connection

More the dew, more is the moisture content in the pitch, which helps the ball grip the surface. So, when a heavy roller is used the moisture comes to the surface quickly, drying it out, making batting easier. Lesser the dew, lesser the moisture and the ball takes slow turn.
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