‘If the bowlers can … ‘: Adelaide pitch curator’s advice to India, Australia ahead of second Test | Cricket News

Adelaide Oval pitch curator Damian Hough ahead of second Australia vs India Test. (ANI)

NEW DELHI: The last time India played at the Adelaide Oval, they were bowled out for a mere 36 runs — their lowest total in Test cricket. Despite conceding a first innings lead, Australia went on to pummel India and further solidified their day-night Test record. Four years later it reads: matches played 12, won 11 and lost one (against West Indies in January 2024). In comparison, India have only participated in four day-night Tests, losing just once.
The pink-ball Test in Adelaide will be the 23rd Test played under lights, with Australia boasting the best record in day-night Tests.

However, Rohit Sharma’s men will head into the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, beginning December 6, brimming with confidence after a dominant performance in the opening Test in Perth. India registered a massive 295-run victory, their biggest win in Australia by runs, and currently lead the five-match series 1-0.
Adelaide Oval pitch curator Damian Hough has predicted that the pitch will offer assistance to both bowlers and batters as the game progresses, promising a balanced contest and an entertaining match. However, he refrained from picking a favourite for the game.
“No, I don’t know who has the upper hand. May the best team win. But yeah, look, we’re just trying to produce a typical Adelaide Oval pitch, so hopefully, there’s something in it for everyone. Since 2015, we’ve probably tried to prepare the same style and characteristics of pitches for all longer formats of cricket, whether it’s Test matches or first-class cricket,” Hough told TimesofIndia.com from Adelaide.
DAY-NIGHT PITCHES

Hough elaborated on the evolution of day-night pitches at Adelaide Oval.
“A day-night pitch probably came about in 2015. Before that, we were trying to produce a drop-in pitch very similar to the old one. The last Test pitch we produced in that style was against India in the 2014-15 series — the Phil Hughes Memorial Test match — which went down to the final session on day five when Nathan Lyon spun us to victory. That pitch was really abrasive.
“Since then, we’ve gone with a lot more grass. The grass helps protect the pink ball, which was necessary in those early days. Now, we use that approach for both the pink and red balls.

“What we aim to create is a coarse, mat-like grass that’s dry and hard. The reason for this is to get as much pace and bounce as we can out of the pitch. Adelaide’s pitches have lower clay content, so spin typically plays a role. The grass helps generate decent bounce. The idea is to allow all facets of the game to shine at different stages. As the ball gets older, batters can capitalise if a partnership builds.
“For the quicks, there’s assistance throughout the game, and spin can come into play during the night sessions under lights. If the bowlers can get a hold of the new ball during the night session, it’s often quite entertaining. That’s our game plan, but we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out,” the curator explained.
DISCUSSIONS WITH ROHIT AND CUMMINS

Hough added that he hasn’t had discussions with either captains — Rohit or Pat Cummins — about the pitch.
“No, not really. I haven’t seen Rohit yet. I said ‘good day’ to Pat yesterday. He knows, and the Australian team knows, what they’ll get here. We try to produce the same pitch every year, whether it’s for a Test match or our Sheffield Shield cricket. There’s nothing new.
“If you’ve listened to me over the last five or six years, it’s always the same sort of commentary about what we’re trying to achieve. I’ll never predict anything because so many variables go into pitch preparation — working with a live product like turf, weather conditions, when they get the new ball, and so on.
“The outcome of a game is influenced by far more than just the pitch, so you’ll never hear me make predictions,” Hough concluded.