CRICKET IN KOLKATA : NO LOVE LOST

CRICKET

Sporting Wicket is not about grass : MSD

KOLKATA: With the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) flashing its 'sporting wicket' card every time talk of a 'turner' popped in the past few days, Team India skipper Mahendrs Singh Dhoni made sure on Satruday that everyone got the definition right.

"There has been to much emphasis on this (recently). A sporting wicket doesn't recessarily mean it has to have grass or bounce on it. It is one which holds a chanllenge... A turning track is challenge for the batsman and also requires the bowlers to give their best. " he told the media on Saturday, the evening of the crucial second Test against south Africa here.

"Every country has its own speciality. In South Africa and New Zealand we encounter wickets that have pace and bounce. Our speciality (in terms of wickets) has been that the ball turns and there is (also) bounce for the spinners. "he added for good measur.

While the Indian skipper made his stand clear on claiming 'home advantage' and that no country need be apologetic about it, his displeasure over the wicket provided at the Eden was evident. "I don't see it providing assistance to spinners in the first two days."

He is not overly bothered by the inexperience in the Indian middle-order. "Everybody is expected to do well. It's a dream come true for them but they have good performances in the domestic matches. Wjo;e ot os a cja;;emge. tjeu meed mpt get npgged dpwm nu [ressire, "he said. Of course, Dhoni is a little relieved that VVS Laxman is back to bloster the batting.

"He is an important cog in our batting line-up. He is good at rotating the strike and also getting the boundaries when needed."