As the world celebrates 140 years of Test cricket on Wednesday, the JSCA International Cricket Stadium in Ranchi is set to host its maiden test match starting on Thursday with both Indian and Australian squads sweating it out in the field to grab the four-match test series.
Both the squads on Wednesday practised on the field for about two hours each to make themselves familiar with the field. The Aussies also took a close look at the much talked about pitch and hoped that it did not turn as much as being expected by many. Captains of both the squads also stressed on the fact that their primary job was to win the match than focusing on controversies.
In the pre-match press meet, Team India Captain Virat Kohli made it clear that his focus was on the important job at hand to win the Test match and take a lead in the four-match series. “We need to move on and concentrate on the match tomorrow,” Kohli said in response to a query on the DRS controversy that arose in Bangalore Test match.
Kohli said that rather than focusing on the opposition and its actions the team focuses on its own targets and accomplishments. “We don't focus much on the opposition. Ashwin did not look at it as a reply to Nathan's eight-wicket haul. He bowled well for Australia, he got eight wickets, he deserved to get them," he said.
The Indian Skipper said that their priority was to focus on what they needed to do in certain sessions to win games for Team India.
The Australian Captain Steve Smith, on the other hand, said that he had never seen a wicket that looked quite as dark. “It’s difficult to say much about this but I feel there will not be much bounce here,” he said, adding, “difficult wickets” in the first two rubbers had not prevented them from playing some good cricket.
Smith said that throughout the series Australian batsmen had played spinners better than the Indian batsmen had played Australian spinners. Therefore, if it is going to be a spin versus batsmen and the quick runs are not there much then it may bring us to a level playing field, he added.
Meanwhile, the JSCA has completed its preparation for the maiden Test match with all necessary arrangements. Apart from cricket lovers from across the State, schoolchildren and youths, security personnel and others have been given complimentary passes to encourage people for watching the match.