Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia WILL be played on ICC-recommended pitch after hosts switched surfaces for their semi-final victory over New Zealand – but it still contravenes the plan agreed ahead of the tournament
- The Indian authorities changed fields for their semi-final victory over New Zealand
- They will face Australia in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday
- However, that game is played on the surface recommended by the ICC
Sunday’s World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad will be played on the pitch recommended by ICC pitching consultant Andy Atkinson, following this week’s controversy in Mumbai.
Mail Sport revealed that Indian authorities had changed the pitch at short notice for Wednesday’s semi-final win over New Zealand, infuriating Atkinson and leading to fears of another unplanned change of plan for the final.
Atkinson remains furious as the Indian board claimed there was something wrong with the pitch originally agreed at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium – with no explanation yet given for the late switch.
But the ICC said on Friday evening that the final would be played on court number 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium – in line with the conclusion Atkinson reached after flying to Ahmedabad last week to determine why he was not getting clear answers from the local authorities about preparations for Sunday’s showpiece.
Australia’s players had expressed nervousness about what awaited them if they were to win their sixth one-day World Cup against an Indian side desperate for victory in front of a home crowd that could reach more than 95,000 players.
The Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad will be played on the surface recommended by ICC pitching consultant Andy Atkinson following this week’s controversy
The build-up to their semi-final victory over New Zealand was overshadowed after it was revealed that India had gone behind the backs of the ICC to ensure the clash took place on a used pitch.
“You can always expect the unexpected in India,” says seamstress Josh Hazlewood. ‘We are not surprised by anything here. When we get there we will look at the field and make a decision on what to do first. Whatever it is, we have to get it right.”
His fellow fast Mitchell Starc said: “I guess we will find out when we get to Ahmedabad and see if it is a new wicket or an old wicket.”
If the ICC is right, the wicket will be the newest of the three options as it has been used only once – 37 days before India’s final match against Pakistan, which lasted just 73 overs.
Atkinson reported to his bosses that this was the only suitable surface of the three available, with pitch No. 6 having already been used twice – for England’s matches against New Zealand and Australia – and pitch No. 7 being used just last week used for the South Africa match. against Afghanistan.
Sunday’s final will be played on Field No. 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
They will face an in-form Australian side who have now won eight games on the trot
However, even the choice of court No. 5 is not without some twists as it goes against the original pre-agreed plan between Atkinson and the BCCI, which saw the final take place on court No. 6.
When Indian authorities unilaterally changed the schedule for Ahmedabad’s next three matches and used pitch No. 6 twice, Atkinson himself flew to the venue for an inspection. His conclusion – that No. 5 is in the best condition – appears to have been respected.
The Australians – who defeated South Africa by three wickets in Kolkata on Thursday – will face comfortably the strongest team in the tournament.
India have the leading run-scorer in Virat Kohli, with 711 at an average of 101, and the leading wicket-taker in Mohammed Shami, with 23 wickets at an average of nine. The win would be their eleventh in a row, cementing them as one of the great white ball teams of all time.