Sydney pitch to suit Indian spinners

Sydney, Dec 31 (UNI) With pitch curator Tom Parker predicting a traditional SCG pitch, shellshocked Men In Blue can hoped to spring a surprise over the all conquering Aussie side when they take on the hosts in the second Test starting here on Wednesday.

Renowned as a spinner's paradise, the pitch in question will also provide the quicks some assistance.

Commenting on the pitch, the curator said, ''The nature of the SCG pitch is that it will always turn on days three and four but I think there is going to be a fair bit of bounce early and a fair bit of carry.'' ''We are looking at a good few days of sun so we will be well ahead of things. And I anticipate a traditional SCG pitch.

''It is looking good, it's nice and flat and there is a good bit of grass coverage,'' Parker said.

A traditional SCG pitch, will be music to Indian captain Anil Kumble's ears who is in good form, taking a fiver in the first innings in the first Test.

Australia's dominance in the world cricket during the past decade has largely come with the nature of wickets produced in the country, which in Parker's word are ''perfect Test wickets''.

''I think the wickets in Australia are the best example of perfect Test wickets,'' he was quoted as saying by the local media.

''There are differences at all grounds, whether it's the Gabba, the WACA or the SCG, and this difference to me and other curators in Australia and Cricket Australia is the benchmark we feel, and this is not coming from our high horse.

''But I think that's why Australia is so competitive. Obviously within the domestic scene the players are playing on all different conditions all round the country and this is grooming them for when they are in the Australian team and they go and play overseas in England or on the subcontinent,'' he opined.

Criticising the nature of pitches in the sub-continent, Parker said, ''We feel that pitches varying is what a Test pitch should be doing whereas you have some other wickets on the subcontinent where you start on a pitch that is like our day three or four or five.'' No matter what the pitch may do the famed Indian batting line up will need to raise their game a notch above, as the earlier Melbourne wicket was more like a strip suited to the visitors performed abysmally against the Aussie attack and failed to get past even 200 runs in both innings.

UNI