Swing bowlers set to rule at new Wankhede

More open stands mean stronger breeze, which will help the ball swing throughout the day, says Dilip Vengsarkar

Swing bowlers set to rule at new Wankhede

More open stands mean stronger breeze, which will help the ball swing throughout the day, says Dilip Vengsarkar

Just as the Fremantle Doctor has been an important factor in proceedings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the sea breeze has had its influence on play at the Wankhede. In future, those winds from the Arabian sea are bound to play an even more significant role.

A crucial aspect of the refurbished Wankhede is its more open east and west stands that allow for strong breeze to sweep across the stadium.

Historically, the first hour of the day of a Test match has seen the seamers control the proceedings, aided by the pleasant south-westerly breeze. From now on, the bowlers can look forward to enjoying extended periods of dominance, thanks to the new architectural design of the Wankhede.

Dilip Vengsarkar, though a batsman, wore a big smile as the strong evening gusts ruffled his hair and neatly pressed white full sleeves.

"The strong breeze is definitely going to help the bowlers. It will especially help reverse swing when the fast bowlers operate in the latter part of the day," the 54-year-old veteran of 116 Tests told MiD DAY here recently.

Vengsarkar has vivid memories of his home ground. "The first match I played here was an Under-19 game in 1974-75, when the stadium was just built," he said.

The former India captain averages 48.53 in Tests at the Wankhede, well more than his career figures of 42.13.
Of the two centuries he had scored here, a 100 against Clive Lloyd's West Indies in 1983 and an unbeaten 164 versus Allan Border-led Australia in 1986-86, he picked the first as his favourite.

The other aspect of the revamped facility is the new players' dressing room, which has been moved from ground floor to the first.

"Earlier, we did not have a proper view of the action in the middle and also it used to be hot and humid. Now it's more airy and there is good cross ventilation," he said.

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