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First Look: Spinning track awaits Australia in Mohali
The going will continue to get tough for Australia in the third Test at Mohali. The home side, as expected, has again opted for a turning track at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium.
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The pitch wears a dry look. There are a lot of cracks on the surface, which is devoid of any grass. The spinners are likely to relish bowling on it, as was the case in the first two Tests, which India won convincingly to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
'This pitch will surely break up'
The Mohali wicket traditionally supports fast bowlers, but chief curator Daljit Singh seems to have catered to the wishes of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni this time around.
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"This pitch will surely break up," an Indian player told rediff.com after having a close look at the track on Wednesday.
Pacers claimed 31 of 32 wickets on this strip in Ranji match
The PCA officials are also sweating over the weather as rain is forecast on the first day of the match, around lunch time.
Incidentally, this wicket was last used in the Ranji Trophy match between hosts Punjab and Saurashtra in November, which the former won by eight wickets in two-and-a-half days.
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The strip then, though, was completely different in nature, as the pace bowlers enjoyed the green on offer, claiming 31 of the 32 wickets that fell in the match. Saurashtra were dismissed for a paltry 90 in the first session on Day 1.
Ashwin expected to add to his tally
This time around the spinners are expected to dominate, as India look to continue their stranglehold on the Test series against an inexperienced Australian batting line-up.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the leading bowler in the series with 18 wickets, at an average of 16.77, is expected to add to his tally.
Ravindra Jadeja has scalped 11 victims and Harbhajan Singh only five.
Australia lost the first Test in Chennai by eight wickets before they were trounced by an innings and 135 runs in the second in Hyderabad.