Nagpur 2004: The memory remains

Friday April 4, 02:06 AM

India's 76-run surrender and the events preceding the match have brought back memories of what had happened in Nagpur against Australia in 2004. Though the Indian batting effort had not been as dismal back then on a wicket far more difficult to play on, the eve of that Test had been equally eventful.

Captain Sourav Ganguly had desperately tried to convince the curator Kishore Pradhan to shave some of the grass from the pitch but, despite a plea before Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) chief and now BCCI's president-elect Shashank Manohar, the wicket had been left untouched.

India were bowled out for 185 and 200 - troubled by lethal spells from Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie - and Australia, as a result, conquered the 'final frontier'.

This time as well, there were reports suggesting that skipper Anil Kumble had asked curator Dhiraj Prasanna for a wicket that was less green. Prasanna, who denied Kumble's request, refused to be drawn into any controversy. "I can't comment now. And as far as the character of the pitch is concerned, I have said enough about it in the last five days," he said.

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