Did India get the kind of practice wicket they wanted before the Test series? According to reports, the answer is no.
Ahead of the three day practice match in Colombo, the Indian team management reportedly expressed concerns over the amount of grass left on the pitch.
The local ground officials defended the decision, saying the surface was prepared exactly as requested by Sri Lanka Cricket.
An NCC official explained that a three day match cannot be played on a wicket without grass and insisted the pitch would still offer a fair contest.
He also said the result would depend more on how the teams approached the game than on the surface itself.
The official further revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket specifically asked for some grass to remain on the wicket.
Despite that, he expects the pitch to be good for batting before gradually offering assistance to the spinners later in the match.
With the first Test in Galle expected to favour spin, the practice game gives India a different challenge before the series begins.
Whether the conditions work in India’s favour or not, the wicket has already become the first talking point of the tour.
