Eden Gardens is unlikely to produce a dust bowl for the second Test between India and New Zealand. Eden Gardens is unlikely to produce a dust bowl for the second Test between India and New Zealand.

THIS WILL be the first time in 20 years that Eden Gardens will host a Test without Prabir Mukherjee’s strict supervision over the pitch. The outspoken curator, who passed away in June this year, was renowned for never being swayed by an Indian’s captain request. And as Sujan Mukherjee, a former Bengal off-spinner, takes over the reins for his maiden Test in-charge, it’s unlikely that the Indians and the Kiwis will encounter a rank-turner at Eden on this occasion either. Not that the hosts have asked for it or shown any inkling towards wanting one.

Even the weather is unlikely to help produce a dustbowl considering this is the first time a Test is being held here in the month of September. The monsoon’s still active in Bengal and there’s rain in the air.

Pitch preparation here started about three weeks back and it has been a slow process with a number of elements providing interruptions. The work has “entered its final phase”, according to the new chief curator, but big uncertainties remain over the firmness of the top soil.

Sujan and the BCCI’s East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmick have been working overtime to get things right but they seem to have gotten stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. And according to Sujan, the Eden might have some pleasant news in store for the fast bowlers after they had little to play with at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur for the first Test.

“Because of the rain, we are forced to keep the whole ground under cover for substantial periods. So the pitch will have moisture and the possibility of producing a square turner is ruled out. The moisture would rather help lateral movement initially. We never had a Test match at Eden Gardens in September. It’s a new pitch and it didn’t get enough sunshine, so the surface won’t be very hard. We are facing a challenge to make it a decent one. We have to ensure that it lasts for five days. Hopefully it will,” he told The Indian Express.

ALSO READ | Is Ashwin the best half-sleeved, finger spinner to take 200 wickets?

At the moment, the pitch has over 6mm grass to help integrate the top soil. Mowers will reduce it to 2mm before the match that starts on Friday. But further reduction using brushes might not be possible, for that would break the top surface.

“It would a little damp if rains persist. The pitch is likely to play slow and low. Bereft of proper firmness, there could be uneven bounce and footmarks might come into play as the match progresses. But there will be less wear and tear because of less evaporation,” a senior ground staff opined.

CAB president, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, allayed the fears. “It will be a good wicket. It will have enough hardness. Spinners will come into play from Day Three onwards,” he told this paper.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series India would look to wrap it up in Kolkata. R Ashwin has been picking wickets for fun. Ravindra Jadeja has been sharing the spoils too. Together they accounted for 16 opposition wickets in the first Test. And they will expect some assistance from the Eden wicket for the second Test that starts on Friday.

The biggest concern while preparing a Test pitch in the monsoon is that incessant rains prevent the soil’s natural contraction and expansion. A decent grass cover on the pitch is mandatory to absorb the moisture. The Eden ground staff has been using blowers to dry out the surface and they will use it more frequently at the game draws near.

ALSO READ | Ashwin: Rewriting history

Weather forecast is not bright either with the local Met office predicting rainfall for all five days. And it could make the pitch even more unpredictable.

Sujan produced excellent cricket pitches during the World T20 earlier this year. The marquee India-Pakistan fixture had been an aberration. The season’s first Nor’wester had made its presence felt on March 19. New ground covers ensured an 18-over-a-side contest but a damp pitch made batting difficult. In the end, Virat Kohli’s 55 not out had saved the day for the hosts. India’s Test captain might have to contend with a similar deck for this Test.

Under Prabir Mukherjee’s curatorship, India won seven Tests and lost three. Most of those matches had gone into the fifth day. But he never faced the challenge of preparing a Test pitch braving the monsoon. His successor’s Test initiation, on the other hand, feels like a baptism by fire.

But as things stand, Eden also could well be New Zealand’s best opportunity to bounce back.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App.