Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough is anticipating rain and storms to disrupt the opening day of the second Test between Australia and India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
A full-house crowd of 53,500 is expected on Friday (December 6) despite the forecast of up to 7mm of rain. Australia will be aiming to bounce back from their heavy 295-run defeat in the first Test in Perth.
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The upcoming contest at the Adelaide Oval marks India’s first pink-ball Test in Australia since their infamous collapse for 36 at the same venue in 2020.
Hough, known for his work in balancing the Adelaide Oval pitch for both batters and bowlers, will be closely monitoring the weather radar.
“Friday looks like it could be thunderstorms,” he said ahead of the second Test.
“I’m not sure exactly on the timing of those storms coming through, but we’re expecting to pull covers on Friday.
“Hopefully it clears out on Saturday morning, then it should be good for the remainder of the Test.”
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The pitch will have a 6mm grass covering, identical to the recent Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Western Australia.
That Sheffield Shield game, also affected by the weather, resulted in a draw. However, the fast bowlers from both sides troubled the batsmen with the new ball.
“Shield games, whether it’s a red ball or a pink one, we’re trying to replicate the Shield and the Test preparation … very similar preparations,” Hough said.
“The Shield pitch showed if you didn’t get a new ball under lights, and you had a couple of set batters in, you’re able to see through some night-time cricket.”
Hough doesn’t think the surface played a role in India’s 36-run all out collapse four years ago when they had a 53-run first-innings lead, before losing by eight wickets on day three.
“On the morning of day three, no one would have expected that Test match to finish in three days,” he said.
“That was just really good bowling from Australia … I don’t think the pitch played a part in that.
“Our job is to get that balance right and try to get a really good, even contest.”
