The warm-up match between Board President XI and Australia at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai turned out to be a run feast for the visitors as they piled on 347 runs batting first. The first ODI of the India-Australia series will be played at the same venue on September 17.
The chief curator of the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium K. Parthasarathy revealed the nature of the pitch that will be used for the first ODI. He reckoned even though Australia scored heaps of runs in the warm-up game, the match on Sunday won’t produce those many runs and a score of between 280 and 300 should be par.
“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 said as quoted by SportsStar.
In all the matches in Chennai, weather plays a huge role in the conditions. Parthasarathy revealed that the pitch is being watered but if rain interrupts, the preparations will be impacted.
“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.
A full crowd expected
The first ODI at Chepauk will mark a return of cricket to the city as there haven’t been international matches at the venue for the past 2 years. The fans have been deprived of action in the Indian Premier League also as the franchise Chennai Super Kings was serving a suspension for 2 years.
The India-Australia game is expected to be a sell-out with supporters turning up to witness their favorite cricketers live once again.
