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Team India are gearing up for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Following their victorious outing in Perth, the management faces a crucial decision regarding the bowling lineup. While Washington Sundar played as the lone specialist spinner in the first Test, the conditions in Adelaide and the pitch dynamics might prompt changes in the playing XI. Will India opt for additional spin options or stick with their pace-heavy attack?
Memories of India’s last Pink-Ball Test
Notably, India’s last pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval was a forgettable outing, marked by their lowest-ever Test innings total of 36 runs. The dramatic collapse in December 2020 saw the then Virat Kohli-led side succumb to an eight-wicket defeat. With the current clash also being a day-night encounter, the team will aim to reverse the ghosts of their previous pink-ball experience and script a different story.
6mm grass on pitch raises excitement for fast bowlers
Adelaide curator Damian Hough has recently revealed that the pitch for the second Test will feature six millimetres of grass, designed to make the pink ball more effective. This has heightened expectations of a fast-bowling feast. With the pink ball known for enhanced movement under lights, the surface could be a paradise for pacers from both sides. India’s pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj will be eager to exploit these conditions, while Australia’s seamers are equally primed for the challenge.
Also READ: AUS vs IND, Pink Ball Test: Adelaide Weather Forecast for all 5 days | Australia vs India 2024
Reason why spin will be crucial in the second Test
Despite the excitement around grass on the pitch, spin will play a decisive role in the second Test, according to curator Hough. He emphasized the importance of including a specialist spinner for the Adelaide Test, highlighting the historical significance of spin at the venue. He stated that spin consistently impacts the game at Adelaide, making the selection of a frontline spinner an obvious choice rather than a debate. Hough pointed to Nathan Lyon‘s remarkable record at Adelaide over the past decade as evidence of the venue’s suitability for spinners.
“Spin always plays a role in Adelaide. You need to pick a frontline spinner. So, there should never be a question of do we, don’t we? It should always be. Nathan Lyon’s record in the last 10 years is second to none. He’s had really good success here. So, always pick a spinner,” said Hough in a media interaction.
Hough also explained the role of the pitch preparation in aiding spin bowling. He mentioned that leaving extra grass, including a variety known as ‘Maddy grass,’ provides spinners with the opportunity to extract grip, bounce, and turn. While acknowledging that Adelaide may not offer as much assistance to spinners as some other venues globally, Hough reiterated that spin has traditionally been a crucial factor at Adelaide for decades, making it a consistent element of the game at the venue.
“The idea of leaving that extra bit of grass and that Maddy grass is for the spinner to be able to get purchase out of that mat and get it to bite, grip and bounce. So, we want spin to play a role at Adelaide. We might not be able to get as much as other places around the world, but spin traditionally plays a role and it has over decades and decades,” added Hough.
