BGT 2024-25: Thunderstorms May Impact First Day of Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide, Warns Pitch Curator
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) Currently, Adelaide is enjoying sunny weather as it prepares for the second Border-Gavaskar Test, a day-night fixture beginning on December 6. However, pitch curator Damian Hough indicates that thunderstorms could interrupt the first day, with clearer skies anticipated from day two.
At the Adelaide Oval, six millimeters of grass has been intentionally left on the pitch, a standard measure for day-night Tests to maintain the condition of the pink Kookaburra ball. Australia has triumphed in all seven of its pink-ball Tests held in Adelaide, while India is set to play a day-night Test for the first time since March 2022.
“In short, weather could indeed impact the match. Presently, with more than two days remaining before the first ball is bowled, it appears that Friday could be wet with thunderstorms. We’ve experienced some unusual thunderstorms over the past few weeks, as our climate is typically quite dry,” stated Hough.
“It seems likely that thunderstorms will occur on Friday, although it remains uncertain whether they will happen in the morning or afternoon. I’ll monitor the forecast closely, which should update in about three hours, to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.”
“It’s somewhat unpredictable, as there are two different weather models; one suggests it will arrive early and won’t be too severe during the game, while the other indicates it may occur around lunchtime and into the afternoon.”
“We’ll have to wait and see, as it seems to be clearing up on Saturday morning. On the first day, we might lose a few overs, but from day two onwards, the weather looks promising, and we should be able to make up those overs,” Hough shared during a select virtual interaction organized by Cricket Australia on Wednesday.
The history of pink-ball Test cricket illustrates that batting during twilight can be particularly challenging for batsmen. Although Hough lacks definitive information, he believes the consensus regarding twilight sessions being difficult for batters is accurate.
“I primarily focus on pitch preparation, so I don’t delve deeply into the players’ challenges. However, history indicates that the night session tends to become more lively, especially with a new ball, a declaration, or if they dismiss all the batters under lights in that final session with a couple of new batsmen.”
“It appears to take a bit more time for players to acclimate. If a couple of batsmen are settled in, they can navigate that phase more easily. I know they had difficulties in the early days with seam recognition, even with spinners. Kookaburra has invested significant efforts into developing the ball, but I’m not privy to all the intricate details.”
“I concentrate on my responsibilities in the game and pitch preparation. If I can ensure that my side performs well, it plays a role in enabling the players to excel.”
While fast bowlers predominantly dictate the pace in pink-ball Tests, Hough believes that spinners should not be entirely discounted. This is evident from Nathan Lyon taking 51 wickets at this venue and Ravichandran Ashwin securing four wickets in India’s last pink-ball game in Adelaide in December 2020, a match often remembered for the infamous 36 all out in the morning session.
Hough recently served as the pitch curator for the day-night Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Western Australia, which ended in a draw due to significant rain interruptions. He expressed his aim to replicate the successful pitch conditions from the Shield match for the upcoming Test in Adelaide.
“Any Shield match essentially serves as a precursor to what we do for a Test match. They aren’t trial games, as they are crucial first-class matches, but they help us understand yearly pitch dynamics. The drop-in pitches continue to evolve slightly each year.”
“To achieve our ideal pitch conditions, we may need to make minor adjustments, such as changing the cut height or optimizing moisture levels deep in a drop-in pitch. We conduct extensive testing, measuring, and monitoring for those aspects. From our perspective, these are incredibly significant.”
“We recently had a day-night Shield match just a week and a half ago. The feedback was positive, and it bolstered our confidence regarding the right preparation techniques for this Test match, considering its significance. It performed well, boasting good bounce and pace for Adelaide and our clay content. There were runs available, and batsmen managed to score well. It exhibited bounce and spin, fulfilling all our necessary criteria. The referee and umpires provided positive feedback, and discussions with players indicated it played quite well. We hope for a similar outcome in the Test match,” Hough concluded.
