India-Oz first Test to be played on green top

The first Test between India and Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore is to be played on an upgraded fast and bouncy pitch.

Fox Sports quoted Narayan Raju, the pitch curator, as saying that the series-opener will provide plenty of encouragement for the fast bowlers.

The pitch will not be the dustbowl some players had feared, Raju said. India's obvious strength through the four-Test campaign will be veteran spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who share more than 900 Test wickets and will be match-winning threats on dry, dusty decks.

Australia will rely on uncapped duo Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza in the spin department, but their role may not need to be significant in Bangalore.

We will provide a sporting track with good pace and carry. There will be something for everyone, the spinners included, Raju said.

Raju said the Bangalore pitch was being scarified for fresh clay and fertiliser to be laid.

The pitch is more or less taken care of and it will have an even covering of grass in the next few days or so.

Australia will leave for India on Sunday, and they will spend time in Jaipurand Hyderabad before arriving in Bangalore.

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