The seamier side of Mohali

A recent addition to India's international venues, Mohali hosted its first Test only in 1994-95, when West Indies played the last match of their three-Test series. On a bouncy, green pitch which afforded generous assistance to Courtney Walsh and Co., India were blasted out for 114 in the fourth innings to lose by a massive 243 runs. Since then, the wicket has been suitably tempered to suit the Indian batsmen, and the results have been more encouraging too: two draws and a win - against England in 2001-02 - in the last three Tests.

The Indians got a huge scare in the only Test they played here against New Zealand, in 1999-2000. Asked to bat on a damp first-day pitch, India's famed batting line-up lasted all of 27 overs - that's less than a full session - and were bundled out for 83. The wicket eased up considerably thereafter, though: 13 wickets fell on the first day, but 17 more were lost over the next four as the Test petered into a draw. India's batsmen redeemed themselves in the second innings: the top five all scored more than 60, with hundreds for Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, as India declared on 505 for 3.

Conditions at Mohali are supposed to be more seamer-friendly than most Indian venues, but statistics reveal that fast and medium-fast bowlers have not performed particularly well: their 67 wickets have come at a rather expensive 35. That's still marginally better than what the spinners have managed, though (47 wickets at 37.23). India's spin duo hasn't done too badly here: Anil Kumble's 18 wickets have come at 28, while Harbhajan Singh, in the only Test he played at Mohali - against England in 2001-02 - took 7 for 110.

The second, third and fourth days are clearly the best for batting at Mohali. The average runs per wicket in the first and fourth innings is only 28.3 and 23.1, but the figure shoots up to 40.7 in the second innings and an incredible 58.7 in the third.

Tendulkar, Dravid and Sourav Ganguly have all enjoyed plenty of success here. Tendulkar has played all four Tests hosted at Mohali, scoring 305 runs at 61, while Dravid (265 runs at 66.3) and Ganguly (222 at 74) have also consistently been among the runs.