Rain respite brings relief to groundsmen

NZ’s Ross Taylor (centre) closely inspects the pitch. Pic/AFP

Unseasonal rain on Wednesday disrupted the preparation of the second Test between India and New Zealand starting today, but almost no rain since Thursday afternoon provided much relief to the Wankhede Stadium groundsmen.

There was a bit of sunshine as well for a brief period, which allowed the groundsmen and curators to work uninterruptedly. The outfield, though, remains wet. However, Mumbai Cricket Association officials are confident that the match will start on time if the rain continues to stay away till the morning of the match. The forecast for Day One of the Test is overcast. This may prompt the teams to boost their pace departments.

However, sunny weather is expected for the rest of the four days. The tricky weather will play a huge role in deciding the combination that both teams will go in with.

Also Read: Water worry at Wankhede! Unseasonal rain hits pitch prep