View attachment 35041
The late, great Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne was frequently left frustrated during Test matches in India. Pic: Getty
Tailoring pitches to nullify opposition bowlers is nothing new in India. Veteran Chennai groundsman K Parthasarathy admitted he played a role in ensuring Shane Warne would not be as effective as usual in the opening Test of the 1998 series.
The world's best leg spinner finished with 1-122 in the second innings as Sachin Tendulkar smashed an unbeaten 155 to steer his side to a 179-run win. India went on to win the series 2-1.
“I kept the square patches outside the leg stump, on either side of the wicket, really hard," Parthasarathy later explained. "It was difficult to get turn from that part as there would be no rough there. After that game, Warne came to me and asked why he wasn’t getting the turn and others were.
"I told him it was because of his dodgy shoulder, that was to be operated on later in the series."
An Indian curator has exposed a stunning truth as controversy rages ahead of the Test series against Australia. More here.
nz.news.yahoo.com