Teams will get pace and bounce at Centurion, says Curator Bryan Bloy
Centurion pitch curator Bryan Bloy has claimed that the track will behave according to its nature and both teams will get pace and bounce during the match. He has also added that instead of making it favorable for the home team, he has focused on preparing a pitch that will play true to its nature.
The first Test of the India-South Africa series was played in Cape Town on a pace-friendly track that had offered a lot of
The second Test of the series will start today at SuperSport Park in Centurion and the curator has stated that the players will get the pace and bounce which will be more in comparison to the Newlands wicket.
"Firstly my apologies, I don't like doing lives, just happy to speak to you. Coming to the wicket, well you will get pace and bounce. That is the true nature of the wicket here at SuperSport Park. You can also expect a bit of sideways movement, but primarily pace and bounce,” he told CricketNext.
"Going into the later stages of the game, you might also start seeing some invariable bounce as it is very dry here and that would or could make the pitch crack up. But that would not really be for assistance to the spinners. Wickets at SuperSport Park over the years have turned, not that it has not, but that would be more
While grass at the Centurion is common but before the start of the game, the pitch seemed little brown and it was assumed that the curator worked in turning pitch’s characteristics and in the second game it will help the spinners a bit. However, Bloy discarded the news and claimed that it will behave according to its nature.
"See, pace and bounce come naturally here and that is what we have tried to keep. No point trying to change the nature of the wicket. Yes, it does end up helping the home team, but that is how it is world over. You cannot expect to change the true nature of the wicket," he smiles.
Bloy was seen chatting with the South African players in the middle when asked if it was anything specific, he replied, "Naah, just showing them around the wicket as they wanted to have a look at it. Don't worry, I would say the same things to the Indian team if they ask me (smiles again).
"For most of these guys, Titans