Pitch wariness can't dampen excitement

The complexion of this edition of the Champions Trophy changed dramatically when West Indies pulled off a sensational 10-run win over Australia at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai yesterday. That game was played on a third pitch but no-one gave it a chance. Fair enough; how different can one 22-yard patch be from another on the same square? But when Sri Lanka take on New Zealand, there will still be a bit of wariness as no one is clear how the pitch will play when the first ball is bowled.

When West Indies began their game against Australia they were playing the pitch more than they were the bowlers. Brian Lara's master stroke - and it seemed like a terrible mistake at the time - of coming in at No. 6 ensured that West Indies could still go on to post a competitive total despite their early losses. But it may not be a blueprint for games of the future.

Andy Atkinson, the ICC's expert on pitches, arrived in Mumbai and did what he could to help the pitches at the Brabourne Stadium along. Word is that they're using industrial adhesives - the stuff builders use - to help bind the pitch, giving it a chance to last the full hundred overs with minimum wear and tear.

But the two teams really didn't have the pitch on mind when they prepared themselves for the latest mini battle of the tournament. Sri Lanka have been the team in form coming into this event, and their early performances indicated that they were hot favourites. But a loss against Pakistan, who have been in utter disarray after losing most of their bowling, has ensured that nothing can be taken for granted in this tournament.

For Stephen Fleming and his crew the opposite has been true. They began the tournament as unfancied contenders. New Zealand have never been at home on dry, crumbling pitches, and there was no reason to believe they would be any different this time around. Fleming spoke of how his team was not rated outside New Zealand - and unfairly so - and backed that up with a solid performance in the first game, against South Africa. He batted with such care and streetwiseness on a tough pitch that he virtually won the game for his side.

The only real concern for New Zealand was with injuries, and Shane Bond was top on the list. With Scott Styris still not at his best, with a hamstring twinge bothering him, New Zealand have to make the most of the resources they have at hand. Understandably they're taking a long-term view with Bond and believe they can still push the best in the world with the squad they have. The contest promises to be a tough one, and if some of Sri Lanka's flair comes to the fore, things could get really interesting.

New Zealand, who have won the tournament before, come to the party with that confidence. "In 2000 we hoped we could win it," said Fleming at a pre-match press conference. "Now we have come here with a genuine expectation as a contender. That's the major difference. In the last couple of years we've been blooding new players and developing experience. Now we play in tournaments to win, that's a big change from what it was in 2000 in the ICC Knock Out."

Mahela Jayawardene, meanwhile, was quite relaxed about the position his team was in. "For Sri Lanka basically it's two semi-finals. We have been pushed to the wall and we have to win," he said. "It's a very healthy situation though to be in. If destiny is in our hand we should be able to steer it, rather than hoping for somebody else to do it for us. It's important not to think too far ahead, but think about tomorrow's game."

Two teams that are more than competent at one-day cricket promise to put up a show worthy of the occasion.