Cricket World Cup final: India’s pitch doctors sure to serve up a dream surface for home team

Australia head to Ahmedabad for the World Cup final on guard about what sort of wicket will confront them when they get there.

Australian star Mitchell Starc concedes the Aussies don’t know whether they will get a fresh or old wicket in Sunday’s World Cup final as eyes turn to potential pitch shenanigans in Ahmedabad.

Starc’s contribution of 3-34 and 16 not out was crucial as Australia booked its place in the decider against India with a three-wicket win over South Africa at Eden Gardens on Thursday night.

The Aussies head for Ahmedabad on Friday on guard about what sort of wicket will confront them when they get there after the controversy surrounding the pitch for the first semi-final between India and New Zealand earlier this week in Mumbai.

It emerged in the lead-up to that game that Indian officials had switched that match from a fresh to a used wicket in a decision that drew concerns from ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, according to emails leaked to the Daily Mail.

Indian officials the pitch for the semi-final against New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

South African spinners Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Aiden Markram hauled their side back into the semi-final, and India has a similarly imposing spin pairing in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

Asked after the semi-final win whether the Aussies’ challenges against the Proteas spinners were concerning ahead of the final, Starc bluntly responded: “I guess we’ll find out when we get to Ahmedabad tomorrow and see if it’s a fresh wicket or an old wicket.”

With Australia having stumbled from 0-60 chasing 213, Starc and Pat Cummins put on 22 for the eighth-wicket to steer their side home with 16 balls to spare.

Starc said the long-time teammates had held their nerve through the latter stages.

“It was a tricky wicket throughout, and I guess different phases of pressure for both teams throughout the game. I was pretty calm, I think Patty was pretty calm as well, and whilst it was pretty close we had plenty of time. Nice to squeeze past and make it to a final,” Starc said.

Australia won’t expect much fresh grass on the pitch for their clash agaisnt India. Picture: Getty Images

The left-arm paceman had performed underwhelmingly through the league stage but stepped things up a notch on Thursday, combining with Josh Hazlewood to take advantage of helpful overhead conditions, leaving the Proteas at 4-24, a hole from which South African coach Rob Walter acknowledged his side never fully recovered.

“It’s probably not been the tournament I would have liked from the get-go, but nice to step up in a big game. I think our power play was probably what got us on our way. Other key moments throughout the day with bat and ball, but to start the game like that with Joshy and I, power play wickets have probably been not our strong suit throughout the tournament, so it was nice to have the power play 2-18,” Starc said.

“The way Josh bowled throughout to finish with 2-12 was incredible. And then Trav (Head) with bat and ball. And I think all the guys in the field as well, the way Davey (Warner)

stepped up in the field and lead by example.”

A World Cup winner in 2015, Starc said he was excited by the prospect of taking on the unbeaten Indians.

“It’s why we play the game, to take on the best. They’ve been the best in the tournament so far and we both find ourselves in the finals. So that’s what World Cups are about. You want to take on the best throughout and we certainly come up against a team that has obviously led from the front throughout the tournament.”

Originally published as Cricket World Cup final: India’s pitch doctors sure to serve up a dream surface for home team