Ind vs Aus: Venue of 3rd Test shifted from Dharmshala to Indore: After the Dharamsala ground was deemed unfit for the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed a different venue. On March 1, Indore will host the third test match of the four-match Test series instead since the BCCI decided that the outfield at Himachal Pradesh Stadium was subpar.
The 3rd Test of the Border-Gavaskar series has been shifted from HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala to Holkar Stadium, Indore. New drainage has just been set in place, however, the BCCI stated that because of the “severe winter conditions in the area,” the “outfield lacks proper grass density and will need some time to develop fully.”
DON’T MISS: IND vs AUS: Jaydev Unadkat released from India squad to play for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy Final
BCCI released a Media Advisory and stated: “The third Test of the Mastercard Australia tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, originally scheduled to take place at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala from 1st to 5th March has now been moved to Holkar Stadium, Indore.”
“Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully.”
India have a strong record at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The host team destroyed New Zealand by an inning and 130 runs in 2019 after crushing Bangladesh by 321 runs in 2016. The Australian team was eager to play at Dharamsala, which is nestled in the Himalayan mountain range’s base. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket fields in the entire globe.
It is common to test the pitch and outfield during a game once they have been rebuilt. The official stated that hasn’t happened thus far. Himachal played all of their home games during the Ranji Trophy season at Nadaun as construction at Dharamshala is not finished yet.
According to Australian media, the venue was moved from Dharamshala because the weather there is favorable for seam bowlers and curators won’t be able to modify the surface as a turning. This is a ridiculous point in and of itself.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently led India to a decisive victory over Australia in Nagpur, will be licking his lips at the chance to compete in Indore. In his two Test matches there, the off-spinner has amassed 18 wickets including a player-of-the-match effort against the Black Caps where he grabbed 13 wickets overall.
For the remaining three Ind vs Aus Test matches, Australia anticipates similar conditions as they prepare to retaliate in Delhi for the second match starting this week.
The Australian speedster Scott Boland said, “All the wickets are going to be pretty similar, not sure they’re going to give us any pace through the middle of the wicket. The same in Sri Lanka (for Australia’s two-Test tour) last year, it felt like they rolled the middle of the wicket so flat, there was no pace in it for our quick bowlers.”
“So I assume it’s going to be pretty similar. From their point of view, their spin dominated. They played our spinners pretty well, so I reckon they’re going to be looking for the same kind of wicket. As a fast bowler, you just want one out of pace, seam, or swing, and there’s not really any of them,” he added
READ: “I knew AUS were in for a nightmare,” Ponting’s prediction on IND star came true in Nagpur
Visit ICC CRICKET SCHEDULE for more cricketing updates.