India's ploy to prepare a spinning track might have backfired as England registered a 10-wicket win in the second Test, but the host captain says he would like to have a similar pitch for the third game.
India's ploy to prepare a spinning track might have backfired as England registered a 10-wicket win in the second Test, but host captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he would like to have a similar pitch for the third game, starting at Kolkata on December 5.
"Of course, we want a similar track as that's where our speciality is. What's the point playing on flat tracks and trying to win the toss and just batting for 3 or 4 days," said Dhoni after England inflicted a humiliating defeat on India in the second Test here to level the four-Test series 1-1.
"You want to face challenges in Test cricket and these are the sort of wickets that push you towards that, so definitely all the wickets should be like that," he added.
Insisting that he would like a typical sub-continental wicket in Kolkata as well, Dhoni said, "I would like a typical sub-continental wicket, which should turn from the first day as I have been saying, so that there is no importance of toss and whichever team plays better cricket wins the game.
"You feel a bit disappointed (at losing) but the good thing about these wickets is that no side is guaranteed to win and they have to play well to win. That's why I call for a track that starts to turn early."
Dhoni had asked for a turning track despite India winning the first Test by nine wickets on a low and slow pitch at Ahmedabad's Motera stadium to go 1-0 up in the series.
Though his demand was met by the Wankhede curator, the hosts slumped to a huge defeat, unable to cope up with the left-arm spin of Monty Panesar and off spinner Graeme Swann.
Heaping praise on Panesar, who grabbed 11 wickets in the match, Dhoni said, "Monty bowled exceptionally well. Spinners from both sides bowled well but it was different to what Monty bowled. He was drawing the batsman to come on to the front foot more and was getting some turn too."
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