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Eden Gardens curator Prabir Mukherjee said he received a call today from the BCCI office in Mumbai, asking him to prepare a turner for the February 14-18 match.
“They (BCCI officials) called me today, requesting I come up with a pitch that will suit the Indian brand of cricket. Test cricket is meant to be played on good wickets. Can anyone please define what exactly is a turner? If you want the ball to turn square from day one, why do you need a curator? The Eden Gardens wicket will have even bounce and decent carry. Spinners will come into play as the match meanders along,” Mukherjee told The Indian Express.
The curator said he would want a written directive from the BCCI in case they wanted to change the basic nature of the Eden Gardens pitch.
When his comments were sought, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said: “I am not aware of any such request.”
In 2008, India levelled the series against South Africa after winning the final Test on an overtly spin-friendly pitch at Kanpur. With the game ending in three days, the match referee criticised the pitch in his report to the ICC, and BCCI was asked to explain.
The Kolkata Test is being hosted by the Cricket Association of Bengal whose president Jagmohan Dalmiya isn’t part of the ruling group headed by BCCI chief Shashank Manohar.
Mukherjee said that in the lead-up to the Test, the pressure on him is expected to mount. “In the past, more illustrious names have tried to persuade me to prepare a pitch of their liking. I am sure this time it will be no different. Kolkata is hosting a Test after two years and I don’t want a repeat of the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch fiasco,” he said.
Earlier this year, the India-Sri Lanka ODI at Kotla had to be abandoned because of an under-prepared pitch.
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Well done Proteas for a job well executed. To be able to maintain that level of intensity for all four days of the testmatch is truly remarkable by any stretch of the imagination. The key now is to use the momentum gained and drive the point home in the second test by emulating the feat exhibited in this match. Speceal note for Hashim, Jacques, Dale, Virender and Sachin's performances. Again, well done
When India don't have any turner then for what we need turning pitches. Harbhajan Singh rarely turns the ball if past 1 year's performance is any measure. He gave 166 runs in 46 overs with just ONE maiden over and got two wickets speaks volume of his turners.Is it not shameful that he is still in team as if he has a permanent contract. What was the fault of Tayagi and Minhas who have been shown the door without having stepped into the ground. We need Turner Selectors not Turner pitches and real turners of the ball.
Here Our senior players are nursing there heals... and here young india losing match....... why cant u take manish pandey. at least give him a chance to play. he is good at crease.. and what about Wridhiman Saha..... we all see his game he is not worth at all. Give the chance to brilliant people.....
Every team palys to its strength at home. Do australian/proteas prepare turners when india visit there. However, indians, broadly known for playing fairly should not resort to such tactics. For inspiration they can recall SCG. Mukerji is right in saying what he is saying if he is otherwise honest in other walks of life.
IF MURALI VIJAY HELD IN TO THE CATCH OFFERED BY AMLA WHEN HE HAS SCORED 61 RUNS THE WHOLE MATCH WOULD HAVE CHANGED FIRST THE INDIAN TEAM SHOULD IMPROVE THEIR FEILDING AND CATCHING THEN ONLY THEY CAN HOPE TO REMAIN NO I OR 2.
Wonderful cricket, well done proteas and india, two of the very best teams at the moment. Proteas must still face the bowling attach from India. Well done to Gary Kirsten, glad to see that Eric Simons will be involved. Good Luck to both teams, test cricket remains skill at the highest level. Dont forget 11 players played, Amla was brilliant but so were the other team players, without them things could have been different. Give the others credit too. Thank you again for a magic test series and good luck to both teams. Anne South Africa
I do not think that we should be too harsh on India, after all we haven't seen them bowl yet. It was such a great match. Never forget today a hero tomorrow a zero. Proteas will have to play very well in the next game. Thank you to India and Proteas for a marvelous test match. Don't forget the other 10 players of the proteas, it did not just consist of Amla (he was brilliant) but so were the other players. Give them the credit they deserve. Anne South Africa
Even though u make a turning pithces ..what is the use of it if plyaers don't play with their heart...see the players who playing cricket ,they shuld play for the country and not for there self...so even though you make turning pithces it doesn't make any different to them....the best example is Austraila and south africa..... they deserve to be a no 1.
Respected curator, just set the clock back to 1996 world cup semi final and you have the answer.
The phone call to curator of pitch in Kolkotta shows that BCCI comprises crooks and swindlers who don't want to play game in the spirit of the game but their only interest is in the game of Money. BCCI may have moe money than any cricket board in the world but they least respect and credibility. Cricket is not Rajya sabha where back door enteries are made to accommodate defectors, dealers of the deal etc., BCCI is a body which should conduct and develop cricket in fair manner.
All team around the world to that. I don't think, India lost the last test because of pitch. It poor cricketing skills displayed from our batsmen. Our bowling is pathetic. Except Zaheer, no one bowls like an international player. Too much money and fame, made them complacent. No bowler looks like improving his skill. I doubt, even if the pitch is made spinner friendly, our bowlers can't take advantage of it.
Shame BCCI, if it is only solution left for team India to win next test match? This is happening earlier too,however this time seem report got leaked by someone.
It is unfortunate BCCI have advised to prepare a turning pitch for the sake of winning and retain the number one ranking. Are we following what Australian cricketers did in Sydney test between India and Australia - for the sake of winning the test? If every country follows this tactics, why are we playing international cricket?
IT IS QUIET UNDERSTANDING ANY HOSTING COUNTRY WOULD PREPARE PITCH WHICH IS GOOD FOR HOME TEAM. DEAR CRICKET FANS, DON'T THINK ONLY FAST BOWLING MAKES THE BEST TEAM. A GOOD TEAM SHOULD FACE SPIN AS WELL AS FAST BOWLING. SINCE INDIA GOT GOOD SPIN ATTACK, WE SHOULD PREPARE SUCH A PITCH. AND LAST THE BENGAL CURATOR SHOULD BE KICKED. WHY THE STUPID LOOKING FOR PUBLICITY.
This is nothing new and happens in all the countries. Only Eden gardens staff came out in public because of the rift between Jaggi and BCCI.
Listen the BCCI has to do all it can to retain the Iconic Image of the Indian cricketer,What with IPL coming up next month.By know we should have seen it coming ,lets not forget that the lunatic Bangladesh batsmen lost the matches to India.On most occassions the Indian bowling looked Club Level.First the media should stop giving any importance to what a MAVERICK like Harbhajan says ,has been shooting his mouth far to often.The guy destrooyed Symonds by foul mouthing him for nothing and we saw the CA backing down under Indian pressure.Smith is correct the South Africans deserve to be World No1.They beat Aussies and England.
Now comes the real picture.You cannot win a real world class team and want to go round the wicket and try some pitch googly.All along it is not a good cricket to go and beat bangladesh,it is competent to beat the world class team no matter in which pitch you play.Our criketers are only after fame and money not the game if you become famous in indian cricket you will get easy money without work and beauties from bollywood to date.This is the real situation.Our poor people think that our criketers are playing for the country which is not the actual scenery.The real background of cricket is that it is a money dealing sport in india both the politicians and criketers uses it in the correct sense as they use the public money in politics.We in TV see only the ball,bat,11 fielders and 2 batsman.A total of 13 people in the field who makes millions around the world fools by making them sit and watch.Atlast all these nonsense round the wicket politics we hear.Cricket must lose fame for india.
Mr. Curator - Keep your mounth shut and do your work. You are one these jokers in bcci, going after publicity. Do not you think , you can do what you are should do.
The pitch should be even for both batsmen and bowlers, it is only then that we can truly see what test cricket is all about. Fantastic game, but remember proteas have not faced the bowling of the Indian team yet. Anne South Africa. Thank you for the entertainment by being part of two great teams.
If the above report is to be believed, and if BCCI have really requested a turner-this is not much different from cheating/match fixing/ball tampering/et al...Pathetic-from the BCCI-I hang my head in shame as an indian cricket fan at this, this is robbery at the highest level-our team and country donot deserve the scum @ bcci-and if they change the pitch and india win-i for one would not be proud of the win or the no 1 status.....Test cricket should be a true test of competition of bat and ball-even chances for both sets to shine-thatz why its called a test-at no stage shold the pitch preparation be tampered with, its the responsibility of the host association and CAB should not bow down to this but prepare an even sporting pitch....Hope better sense prevails....let A team defeat the other based on skill capabilities only and not because of the pitch....Hope the media takes this up
...and that too to a team that played really, really well? We guys are poor losers, never wanting to accept and acknowledge our inadequacies. And this is not just in sport..we do that everywhere...home, work, public life... I think the main problem is playing weak preparation series...Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while SA played Australia and England. Their skills were keener than ours, thats all. I'm sure our team will do better in the next match.
Dear BCCI please allow whatever the outcome but focus on making bouncy tracks in India (atleast 3 of them ) in short term India might not do well but in long run India will develop to be a good cricket team like Australia. Please allow bouncy tracks, pick kids from rural india at early age(ask senior players to spot talent) and allow them to horn skills in city clinics with facilities this will create a good talent pool that will replenish when seniors retire(look how australia produces young players to replace seniors). rama mohana rao anne sydney australia
When will Indians sports personalities grow up .Curator displays total lack of professionalism by going to press for cheap publicity. Shut up and focus on preparing a good wicket.