The two-Test series between India and South Africa is starting from tomorrow. The first match will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata and the match will start at 9:30 am Indian time. Only 3 Test matches have been played between India and South Africa on this ground, in which Team India has won 2 and the African team has won once. The last match between these two teams was played here in 2010, in which the Indian team won by an innings and 57 runs.
If we look at the history of Eden Gardens, once the batsman is set here, it becomes quite easy to score runs in the first innings. But it becomes very difficult to score runs in the third and fourth innings.
Batsman or bowler, who will get more help
The history of the Eden Gardens pitch shows that it is helpful for both batsmen and bowlers. In the beginning the fast bowlers get help, while from the third day the spinners start dominating. According to media reports, there will be grass on the pitch for the first test match between India and South Africa, due to which the fast bowlers will be expected to get swing in the beginning. In such a situation, the batsmen may have to struggle hard to score runs.
Indian team’s assistant coach Ryan ten Deutsche has said that the role of spin bowlers can be important in this field. The team winning the toss can choose to bat first and score big here, because the first 2 days of batting here may be easier than the last 3 days but as the pitch gets old, the spinners will start dominating.
Overall, fast bowlers can prove fatal with the new ball on the first day, but in the meantime, the first 2 days will be easier for the batsmen as compared to the last 3 days. The average score here in the first two innings is more than 300 runs, but the average score in the third innings is around 250 and even scoring 200 runs in the fourth innings is considered a very difficult task.
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