India's Cricket Team Prepares for England Series with Tailored Practice Pitch
Preparation for the Upcoming Test Series
The management of the Indian cricket team, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel, has contacted the pitch curators at Kent to ensure a suitable practice surface. The senior squad, captained by the young Shubman Gill, is set to face the India 'A' team next week before embarking on a five-match Test series against England.
Recently, the India A team wrapped up a two-match unofficial Test series against the England Lions, with both matches ending in a draw. According to reports from RevSports, the coaching staff has requested that the curators create a pitch that closely resembles the conditions experienced during the series.
A local pitch curator mentioned that India is not looking for a pitch that favors batting excessively or one that is overly green. The curator stated,
“Yes, the coaching staff, including Gautam Gambhir and others, spoke to us after their internal meeting. Their message was clear: ‘We want a good pitch.’ Not something too flat or too green, but something that will genuinely help with match preparation. They wanted more realistic conditions, not just batting drills. So we adjusted a few things, grass cover, net width, and length extensions. The feedback has been great since then.”
The current pitch may seem favorable for batters at first glance, but curators assure that it has more depth than it appears. The curator elaborated,
“Yes, and no. The soil here naturally plays batter-friendly, so visually, the wicket may look dry or flat. But we manage grass density, not just what you see, but how thick it is. The pitches currently used by India and Australia have slightly more grass than our usual white-ball surfaces. It's a subtle balance. Even with a brown surface, there's enough life in it for seamers, if you hit the right length.”
The team is currently training in Beckenham, South East London, utilizing specially prepared wickets for their practice sessions. The upcoming practice match is anticipated to provide insights into India's revamped top order. With Sai Sudharsan poised for a debut and Karun Nair back in the mix, the batting lineup for the opening Test in Leeds on June 20 could be influenced by the performances observed next week.