Ganguly convinces curator to shave pitch

The green Nagpur pitch is likely to be shaved bare before the start of the third Test, The Indian Express has reported. Kishore Pradhan, the curator at the ground, said Sourav Ganguly's opinion of the teams and the balance of the series convinced him to remove the grass.

"He explained to me the difference between the Indian and Australian teams and their respective strengths and weaknesses, and also the position of the series. And he requested me to shave off the grass one last time," said Pradhan. "I would have done one last mowing in any case, but his request convinced me. Till the mud beneath doesn't get caught in the machine, we will continue. I will not let the wicket break. It will remain a sporting wicket."

This was a come-down from Pradhan's earlier stance of not shaving the wicket, which would have helped the fast bowlers. But John Wright, the India coach, felt it was a sporting pitch. "It will help pace bowlers and the batsmen," said Wright. "I would be most happy with a score of 250 for 6 or 8 on day one."