Mohali pitch will help pacers: curator

Mohali, Oct 15 (UNI) There is good news in store for the likes of Brett Lee and Ishant Sharma ahead of the second Test here with the pitch expected to assist the fast bowlers, specially in the morning session.

''The wicket still has some moisture and we are hoping to have good sun shine over the next week. As usual, the fast bowlers should expect assistance from the track in the morning session. I would say if bowlers stick to a good line and length, they can force the edges,'' Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Chief Curator, Daljit Singh told mediapersons here.

''It has been the nature of this wicket that batsmen will have to play more carefully in the opening sessions. Overall, I would say it would be a good wicket,'' he added.

But the Mohali track will be missing its tradition bounce with heavy monsoon rains lashing the city until a few days ago.

''We got heavy rains this time. In fact, rains came down heavy as recent as October 4 and nearly two-and-a-half feet deep water got collected on the surface which initially affected our ground preparations,'' Daljit said.

When asked about the chances of Anil Kumble who was in woeful form during the first Test at Bangalore, Daljit said the Indian Test captain can definitely trouble the batsmen.

Kumble, who has been Man of the Match in Mohali twice in the past, will be hoping to regain his form here after going wicketless in Bangalore.

However, Daljit cautioned that the spinners should not expect the pitch to help them in the initial stages but they should get some assistance later on.

UNI XC AB BD1750