After the three-match Test series concluded in favour of India last week, both http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Assam-c765 Cricket
Association have assured a sporting wicket for the first One Day International.
The curator of the Assam Cricket Association, Mr. Sunil Barua was heavily criticised for preparing an unsporting track when India took on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the same venue for the last time. The visiting Australia attack bundled the home side
out for a meagre 170 in that game. But this time Barua has claimed that he has prepared this best turf of his career.
The match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to start at 8:30 am local, and the curator said that the dew effect early in the morning might trouble the batsmen but as the sun shines at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, it would become
a good wicket.
"I know there was a lot of criticism last time. I don't want to talk about that. I can just say, it will be a lively and sporting wicket," admitted Barua while talking to the media reporters.
Barua is handling the turf since the venue hosted its first One Day International in 1983. On the basis of his last 27-year experience, the curator claimed that it would take half an hour to clear the dew. The Assam Cricket Association curator
also told the media that the pitch had been given a top dressing with special imported clay to avoid early wear and tear.
The last match hosted by the venue was when India hosted Australia on 8 November last year. India, in that match, collapsed to 5 for 27 for before being rolled out for a paltry 170 by the Kangaroos. In reply, the tourists easily chased the
below par target with six wickets intact, sealing the ODI series.
The curator said that the grounds men have done their best job though he did add that neither the sides nor the fans should expect a smooth outfield as the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is a multipurpose ground. The ground recently hosted Bordoloi
Gold Cup football tournament.
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