Lahli`s green top could be answer to India`s woes in Aus, SA

Lahli: Hypothetical it may sound at the moment but it would not be a bad idea to let the Indian batsmen use the green top at the Chaudhari Bansi Lal Stadium here before leaving for tough overseas tours such as Australia and South Africa, felt BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary.

Asked if international matches could be organised at this venue in order to help Indian batsmen prepare better for foreign tours, Chaudhary, who is also the secretary of Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) said, "This is hypothetical right now...May be camps could be arranged in the future." While the cricket infrastructure is quite impressive, what is holding the place back most is the lack of accommodation necessary for hosting international players in the vicinity. "Five star hotels are needed and they are expected to come up around this place," Chaudhary, son of former BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said. This could, indeed, be a realistic possibility as it is the constituency of Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Owing to the high water level beneath the lively surface here that adds moisture to it, it has become a norm to see teams getting out for small totals. The seemingly slow outfield and the wintry conditions only add to the batsmen`s woes. A total of 15 wickets fell by the wayside on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match between Haryana and Mumbai while seven batsmen made their way back to the respective dressing rooms by lunch on day 2. Even a certain Sachin Tendulkar, who had the whole of Lahli pack the 8000-capacity stadium, could score not more than five runs in Mumbai`s first innings yesterday. He lasted just seven balls before being dismissed by Mohit Sharma. While Haryana were all out for 134 in their first innings, Mumbai`s famed batting line-up could not score more than 136 when their turn to bat came. Last year Haryana were bundled out for 55 and 66 in their opening Ranji fixture. Batting is not really the most difficult thing on this sporting pitch, but it surely tests the batsmen`s technique and, more so, their temperament. And considering that they often tend to struggle on the traditionally fast and bouncy pitches of WACA and Kingsmead, a few outings on this wicket before a tough foreign series can certainly do the Indian batsmen a world of good.