India vs Australia 2017: All you need to know about the first Test in Pune

#4 Pune pitch expected to support sharp turn

Australia coach Darren Lehmann and skipper Smith take a look at the surface (Image Courtesy: cricket.com.au)

With the venue making its Test debut, there is considerable mystery around the playing surface. It must be kept in mind that the chief curator Pandurang Salgaoncar was one of the fastest bowlers in India’s domestic circuit during the 70s who inexplicably did not get even a single opportunity to represent his country.

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Still trying to scare the batsmen, he made a startling claim. “The ball will fly here. There will be bounce. Even the cracks that will naturally come up are unlikely to provide much turn for the spinners. I have prepared a pitch for cricket.”

In sharp contrast, the surface appears to be devoid of any grass and rough marks are already creeping up on a few areas. With the sun expected to beat down hard on the pitch, spinners could come into the equation despite Salgaoncar’s wishes.