Pitch report: M Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore
Established: 1969
Capacity: 42000
Floodlights: Yes
Ends: Pavilion End, BEML End
Home Team: Karnataka, Bangalore Royal Challengers
Head Curator: Narayan Raju
Test History: 21 Tests (6 home wins, 6 away wins, 9 draws)
Last 10 Tests: 2 home wins, 4 away wins, 4 draws
Last 10 Tosses: 9 bat first (3 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses) 1 Bowled first (Draw)
Overview
The ground used to go by the name of Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium, but was renamed to honour former BCCI president and Karnataka administrator M. Chinnaswamy. There is no shortage of famous attractions in and around the stadium as it is flanked by Cubbon Park, a popular tourist destination in Bangalore, and Mahatma Gandhi Road, one of the city’s busiest roads.
The stadium became cricket’s 47th Test venue when India hosted the West Indies in 1974. The match also marked the debuts of Windies greats Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge, and later saw the debut century of Australia skipper Michael Clarke and India spinner Anil Kumble’s 400th Test wicket.
Last Time Out
Only one day of play was possible when the Proteas visited back in 2015 with the pitch like every other surface in that series offering Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin plenty of assistance.
AB de Villiers stood out with the bat making 85 as South Africa crumbled to 214 all out in 59 overs.
The India openers put on an unbeaten 80 before the rain set in for the next four days forcing a draw.
Happy Hunting Ground
Murali Vijay is India’s top runscorer at the venue of the current crop of players having hit 204 runs in three innings at the venue including a top score of 139.
Ishant Sharma leads the wicket-taking list for current players at the venue with his 12 scalps across 3 Tests.
None of the current crop of Australians were involved when they last visited Bangalore in 2010.
They Said
Proteas skipper Hashim Amla felt the surface was better than his team’s performance suggested saying: “If I had won the toss, I would have batted first anyway. I think it was a good wicket.
“We just didn’t get any partnerships going. AB was exceptional as always. Unfortunately no one stuck around with him long enough to post a big total.”
Weather Forecast
The weekend forecast looks good but isolated thunder showers are expected on days three and four.
Conclusion
We should see a return to a more traditional Indian wicket rather than the raging turner that greeted the teams in Pune but expect Ashwin and Jadeja to factor heavily.
Australia will be bouyed by their victory in the series opener but will have to put in another top draw performance if they are to leave Bangalore with a positive result.
Latest
-
News
England Women wrap up 4-1 series victory in New Zealand
Heather Knight top-scored with 35 in England’s chase of 137.
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.