The Twenty-Two Yards

After the featherbed in Chennai, all eyes are on the strip at the Motera. The pitch has a tinge of green on it that has put a smile on Graeme Smith’s face. But the grass is present more for binding purposes and isn’t expected to overtly assist the quick men. At the same time, the curator will be keen to ensure the bowlers get something out of the pitch, just in case this

Test becomes a repeat of the one played at Chepauk last week.

Team News

• India are toying with the idea of playing

Irfan Pathan in place of the injured Sachin Tendulkar in an attempt to pick 20 South African wickets.

• Laxman will move up the order thanks to Tendulkar’s absence.

• Ishant Sharma didn’t bowl too many in the nets yesterday and is an unlikely starter.

• South Africa are unlikely to change their combination.

History Lessons

• India have won three, lost one and drawn four in eight matches played at Sardar

Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, where the second Test between India and South Africa will be played starting tomorrow.

• Built on the banks of the Sabarmati river on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the stadium is an imposing structure which can accommodate approximately 48,000 spectators.

• Also known as the Motera, after the place where it is located, the venue hosted its first Test in November 1983 and has been witness to some memorable Indian feats — Sunil Gavaskar got to his 10,000th Test run here, against Pakistan in 1986-87, and seven years later, Kapil Dev nailed his 432nd victim to go past Richard Hadlee as Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker.

... contd.