Dew factor leaves teams anxious
Posted on Oct 26, 2006 at 20:38 | Updated Oct 26, 2006 at 21:17
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Mohali: Australia are preparing for Sunday's key Champions Trophy clash against hosts India by practicing with a wet ball to get used to the late evening dew that drenches the outfield.
"We have tried a few things at training, bowling with a wet ball, bowling balls across the seam," said Australian fast bowler Brett Lee after a training session here on Thursday.
The surface at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium becomes so wet in the second session because of the excessive dew that bowlers are unable to grip the wet ball and fielders slip on the outfield.
Worried organisers sprayed a farming chemical on the ground before Wednesday's match between New Zealand and Pakistan to keep the dew off the grass -- but it made no difference.
"It was pretty wet and everyone did everything in their power to make it as dry as possible," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming after his side's 51-run win over Pakistan. "We had to change the ball as many times as possible. It was still wet."
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said the chemical "worked to a certain extent."
"It stops the dew from settling down on top of the grass. It does work to a certain extent. The chemical has a future if we continue playing matches in dewy conditions."
Teams prefer to bat second to take advantage of the bowlers' misery, but winning the toss did not help in the last two matches.
Sri Lanka sent South Africa in to bat in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to avoid bowling in the dew-affected second session and ended up losing the game.
On Wednesday, Pakistan captain Younis Khan did the same and lost the match.
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