50 shades of green - decoding NZ test pitches
Sport Review #305
A big part of pre-Test chat is the surface - New Zealand groundsmen are essentially trolling at this stage by preparing pitches so green they can’t easily be differentiated from the outfield, but then lead to unpleasant Australians batting for two days largely untroubled.
Knowing your forrest green from your lincoln green could be the difference between winning with a traditional belt and braces four seamer situation, or losing when the pitch randomly mutates into Hyderabad mid-test and your spinner is playing Plunket Shield at Molyneux Park.
And so - coaches and captains are free to use this Sport Review Pitch Reference system to decode test tracks:
Entertaining. Fun for all the family. Can get panicky when under pressure.
Recommendation: Bowl first, and make sure there’s a guitar in the shed for afterwards.
Disconcerting. Nagging sense of inevitable approaching doom.
Recommendation: Bat first but appeal against the light at first opportunity.
English like Duke balls or grounds with trees in the middle. Gets pace bowlers more excited than moustaches or wristbands.
Recommendation: Bowl first, and warm up the limousine.
Big supporter of green spaces. Showing signs of breaking up but holding together for now.
Recommendation: Insert opposition and cross fingers.
Spicy northern Indian delicacy. Pungent. Tasty. Promises intrigue.
Recommendation: Bat first and anticipate turning conditions last innings.
Dangerous. Full of venom. Loves an early strike.
Recommendation: Bowl first, but be careful decision doesn’t bite you on the arse.
Thanks for reading - Richard
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