India’s head coach Gautam Gambir held an internal strategy meeting with support staff before providing detailed instructions to ground staff. Gambil approached Kent curator Josh Malden and requested a pitch that replicated the expected conditions across five Test matches.
India A concluded a two-match series with the England Lions, with both games finished in a draw. They will face the senior Indian team led by Shubmangill on the only official warm-up fixture. The conflict within the Squad is scheduled to begin this Friday at Beckenham County Ground.
Gautam Gambir and others spoke to us – Josh Malden
India’s team management held an internal meeting on Tuesday, where head coach Gautam Gambir and bowling coach Mohn Morkel created clear plans.
Your daily cricket dosage!
After the meeting, Gambil requested pitch curator Josh Marden to create a surface that replicates the expected conditions during the tour. Marden confirmed that he received detailed input from the coaching staff.
“Yes, coaching staff including Gautam Gambhir and others told us after their internal meeting,” Marden told Revsportz.
“Their message was clear: ‘We want a good pitch.” It’s not too green, but more realistic conditions are needed to prepare for matching.
The soil here is naturally batter friendly – plays Josh Malden
India is currently training on batting-friendly surfaces, but pitch curator Josh Malden said he is providing ample support to Seamers. The practice pitch used by both India and Australia in Kent has a slight grass compared to a typical whiteball track.
“Yes and no. The soil here is naturally batter-friendly so visually the wicket may look dry or flat. But we control not only what you see, but how thick it is,” Marden revealed.
“The pitches currently used in India and Australia have slightly more grass than the surfaces of regular white balls. That’s a delicate balance. Even brown surfaces have enough life to the sailors when hit the right length,” he added.
Team India will face India A in the S-quad match held in Beckenham on June 13th
India is set to launch its campaign with a new ICC World Test Championship Cycle in a five-match Test series in England. The 18-man senior squad will be playing a four-day S-QUAD match against India A at Beckenham starting June 13th.
KL Rahul, who joined India A before the match, was impressed by his score of 116 in the first inning and 51 in the second inning. Karun Nair recorded a 20th century (281-204 off) in his first game, and had to think about it to the selector before the series opener at Headingley in Leeds on June 20th.
India has not won a Test Series in the UK since 2007. The latest series in the UK ended with a 2-2 draw on the 2021-22 tour.
Also Read: RCB asks Karnataka High Court to dismiss criminal charges in Bengaluru Stampede case