IND vs NZ 3rd Test: New Zealand coach Gary Stead shares Wankhede pitch details amid contrasting reports

There’s a lot of confusion regarding what sort of pitch will be on offer for the third India-New Zealand Test which will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from 1 November. Team India are 2-0 down in the three-match Test series and face a series sweep threat at home. They lost the first match in Bengaluru by 8 wickets and the second at the MCA Stadium in Pune by 13 runs.

After a defeat amid seaming conditions in Bengaluru, India opted for a spin-friendly track in Pune but the strategy backfired as the Indian batters’ technique was exposed and Mitchell Santner fired New Zealand to their first Test series win in India by taking 13 wickets in the second Test.

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After an embarrassing defeat in helpful conditions, it was expected that India would opt against another turning pitch in Mumbai which is known for offering pitches with bounce.

On Tuesday a report in the Times of India also suggested the same as a BCCI source said that a “sporting track” will be prepared for the final test of the series.

“It will be a sporting track. Right now, there’s a bit of grass on the pitch. It’s expected to be good for batting on Day 1 but should offer turn to spinners from Day 2,” a source told TOI.

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There’s a fresh twist now in the matter, however, with Indian Express reporting that Team India has asked for a “rank turner” as they want to rely on their tried and tested methods.

“It will be rank turner pitch. The team management has requested to prepare a pitch which can help spinners from day 1. It seems the team wants to go on a tried and tested formula,” a source told the Indian Express.

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Meanwhile, on Wednesday, New Zealand coach Gary Stead revealed that Wankhede Stadium presently has a “red clay pitch” and that adapting to the surface will be the visitor’s biggest challenge.

“The red clay is very different, so we’re going to have to adapt quickly,” he added. “Our next two trainings are going to be important but for the WTC itself, there’s no doubt one more win would certainly help us.”

What is a red clay pitch? 

Traditionally a red clay pitch offers true bounce and carry, which means it suits the pacers at the start but also allows batters to trust the bounce and play their shots. However, as compared to black clay or black soil pitches, red clay pitches absorb less water and start to break down quickly, bringing spinners into play from Day 2 or 3. If a red clay pitch is used at Wankhede then we can expect pacers to have an upper hand on Day 1 followed by spinners playing a major role on the rest of the days of the match.