Drought-hit Cape Town wicket could favour India in 1st Test
What's the story
As South Africa faces the worst drought in years, the dry conditions could favour visitors in the 1st South Africa vs India Test at Newlands, Cape Town.
The men in blue may not have to face the kind of bounce expected of the track, as the grounds-men find it difficult to prepare a pitch suitable for the home side.
Here's more on this.
Difference
South African pitches vs Indian pitches
Owing to many factors like the soil conditions, moisture content in air, weather, proximity to sea, pitches in the Indian subcontinent behave differently (mainly favouring spin bowling) from the ones outside.
The case in point, South African pitches traditionally are quite fast offering good pace and bounce and assist fast bowling with little in them for the spinners.
Advantage India
Pitch may lack bounce
The Newlands wicket is expected to have a dry wicket and could possibly give the Virat Kohli-led side an advantage.
With an expected dry wicket that lacks considerable bounce, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja might figure in the playing XI for India.
It also means that the hosts, who have a better pace bowling attack, can't rely on their edge that much.
What's required?
Challenges in preparing pitches suitable to hosts
The only way South Africa can present a challenge to India, with a pitch that has pace, bounce and seam movement, is by sprinkling of water.
The challenge under the dry circumstances however is to maintain "live grass on wicket, thin grass, for pace and also make sure that the ball doesn't grip and turn", all of which requires little rain in the mornings.
Information
No certainty of rain
With rain being an uncertain factor, it is a challenge to keep the grass alive during the Test considering the fact that the pitch can't be watered during the match as per rules.