Antigua pitch centre of attention (4 Apr 1997)

Friday 4 April 1997

Antigua pitch centre of attention

By Geoffrey Dean

THE GREAT pitches debate within the Caribbean moves to Antigua today with the start of the fourth Test between the West Indies and India.

The last four Tests at the Recreation Ground in St John`s have all been draws, and this one promises to be another unless one side bats badly on a wicket that looks full of runs.

There has been a lot of concerned talk over the pitches for the first three Tests, with the first two lifeless and that used at the Kensington Oval offering uneven bounce and incessant sideways movement. Sir Garfield Sobers said he could not recall playing in or seeing any Test match where batsmen played and missed so many times.

India, trailing 1-0, are sure to revert to an attack of two seamers and two spinners, but West Indies retain their pace quartet, with Courtney Walsh returning for Mervyn Dillon.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)