Parsana promises a sporting track after Chennai run glut

Ahmedabad, Apr 1 (UNI) After the Chennai wicket proved to be a nightmare for bowlers producing over 1500 runs, curator of the Sardar Patel stadium Dhiraj Parsana today promised a sporting wicket for the second Test between India and South Africa which begins here from April 3.

All eyes are now on the type of wicket which will be prepared here for the second Test as the Chennai wicket failed to produce a result.

''I expect the wicket to be a sporting one, helping the fast bowlers initially and then giving aid to spinners on the last two days. We have kept some grass on it. The soil mixture is 50 per cent clay and the rest mostly a mixture of red and black soil,'' said Parsana.

''The free grass cover on the surface can help the seam bowlers. They can expect some carry. I expect the wicket to behave better than at Chennai,'' Parsana said.

The Chidambaram Stadium wicket at Chepauk in Chennai was so heart-breaking for the bowlers that 1500 runs, the second-highest ever tally on Indian wickets in Tests, were scored and 25 wickets fell in five hot and humid days.

Incidentally, the last Test South Africa played at this venue more than a decade ago saw a dramatic collapse of the visiting team's batting line up, not against the Indian spin on a dust-bowl of a track but against speedster Javagal Srinath.

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