India see red over green Sydney track

Zaheer Khan getting better with every outing and young Umesh Yadav firing them in all the time, Australian batsmen will not have it easy either. (AFP Photo)

SYDNEY: A definite tinge of green on the SCG track was not really surprising, but the Indian team was tight-lipped about the 22-yard surface that holds the key to the second Test and the series against Australia.

At the MCG, quite a bit of thick dead grass had been rolled into the surface by the curator. It explained the spongy bounce. But with a fair bit of live grass, the SCG pitch looks firm and nice. According to curator Tom Parker, it will yield some turn on the last two days.

The Indians, however, are not taking Parker's word on face value. They are not quite worried about the grass, but the firmness of the wicket is making them see red. The three-pronged Australian pace attack - comprising Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle - didn't go flat out in the nets, but had one eye on the square during a game of touch rugby inside the main arena. "The Sydney pitch is no longer as pace-friendly as it used to be a few seasons ago, but it should still keep our bowlers interested," said Mike Hussey.

Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Pattinson would be looking to give Indian batsmen a repeat dose of raw pace and steep bounce that they had served with relentless consistency at the MCG.

There was hint of a smile on Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan's faces. It was at this venue that Ishant had come of age four years ago and almost turned Ricky Ponting into his 'bunnyr'. The lanky pacer from Delhi will be itching to go all out here. And with Zaheer getting better with every outing and young Umesh Yadav firing them in all the time, Australian batsmen will not have it easy either.

India's batting continues to be a worry. The top guns, as well as the young turks, had a good session in the nets, but the body language continued to be sloth even as selectors Mohinder Amarnath and Narendra Hirwani tried their best to pep up the mood in the camp.

While the out-of-form Gambhir asked Amarnath to watch him bat in the nets and check if he was doing anything wrong, Hirwani was seen giving R Ashwin a few tips on releasing the ball as Ojha toiled hard under the sun, trying hard to make an impression. Given the nature of the wicket, though, it is unlikely that India will go in with two spinners here.

Both Australia and India are likely to retain the XI that did duty at the MCG.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Etd0V9VY51XB/story01.htm

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