17 July,2014 08:30 AM IST | | Gaurav Joshi
As the Indian think-tank walked across the hallowed turf to the pavilion, MS Dhoni approached the pitch, went down on his knees and assisted the ground staff to lift the covers of the 22-yard strip
Ishant Sharma
London: As the Indian think-tank walked across the hallowed turf to the pavilion, MS Dhoni approached the pitch, went down on his knees and assisted the ground staff to lift the covers of the 22-yard strip.
Ishant Sharma
Underneath was a surface with the same green tinge as Tuesday. It was expected some of the grass would be shaved on yesterday but it remained the same. Dhoni didn't seem concerned as he stood at the crease from both ends and practised leaving the ball.
Dhoni was not able to comment on the combination of his side, but the Indian captain did make a reference about adapting to the conditions at Lord's and famously its pronounced slope.
The Indian pace trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar spent nearly an hour bowling on a wicket adjacent to the main pitch with bowling coach Joe Dawes trying to get the bowlers to bowl a fuller length.
With a hot day forecast, the impact of the green tinge on the pitch is not likely to remain for more than a session and it is imperial that if India is to bowl first on the pitch, then the pacers utilise it to the maximum effect.
The first session seems pivotal and could provide significant advantage to a particular team. But bright conditions expected Duncan Fletcher would have already emphasised to the batsmen the importance of negotiating first session.
