Pitch Inspection Ahead of Fourth Test: Dravid and Stokes Analyze Surface at JSCA International Stadium

On Thursday, during India's optional practice session, head coach Rahul Dravid conducted his usual inspection of the pitch at the JSCA International Stadium. He spoke with Ashish Bhowmik, the chief curator of the BCCI, and the other groundsmen.

On the eve of the fourth Test, England's captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, selector Luke Wright, assistant coach Paul Collingwood, and a team analyst were engrossed in a meaningful conversation around the 22-yard surface as the visitors began preparing for their training.

The black stain, which is present in one or two areas of the ground and which Stokes said he had "never seen" during his Wednesday interview with UK media, seems to have drawn England's notice. So what is this dark spot and does it mean that the pitch will break quickly, resulting in a fourth-day or three-day finish?

The locals believe that considering the quality of the pitch, it is doubtful that the last Test of the five-match series would go on for five days. However, one BCCI insider says that there is no need to be concerned about the black spot.

The Board source said, "It's a black-soil wicket, and the Ranchi black soil is such that it (the wicket) doesn't break up fast." When games were played on the nearby wickets, players would run over the area or areas in question, which is how the (black) patch came to be.

"This pitch was utilized in the previous two Test matches played at this location, between South Africa and India in 2019 and Australia and India in 2017." Even the quick bowlers had seen some success in those two Test matches.

Here, the skies have been a little overcast with a chance of rain since Thursday afternoon. The quicks may have a larger part if the weather stays cloudy in the next days as well.

India, who lead the series 2-1, would want to win it here because they think they have the balance to adjust to any surface.

"This wicket is typical of India." Though this wicket has always had cracks, there are now more of them, according to batting coach Vikram Rathour. "With enough balance on our team, we can handle any challenge that comes our way."

England has brought in Shoaib Bashir in lieu of Rehan Ahmed and will start with two quicks, Ollie Robinson (instead of Mark Wood) and James Anderson. Their goal is that the height of Tom Hartley, Robinson, and Bashir will allow them to take advantage of a pitch that is predicted to bounce irregularly and take a turn.

"A little more grass was removed from yesterday, which was Wednesday. However, Stokes said, "the general understanding of the wicket hasn't really changed that much from yesterday (Wednesday)."

However, the guests won't be entering the pitch with "too many pre-conceived ideas." Who knows? The pitch may be as flat as a pancake! We'll adjust if that's the case," the skipper said.

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