Although by no means quick or bouncy, the Wankhede pitch has a fairbit of grass on it, something that you do not normally see here in thesubcontinent

Anand Vasu17-Nov-2001Mumbai has been the venue for more than one touring side facing theblushes in a warm up game. Australia were vanquished by a SachinTendulkar assault for Mumbai in 1998. In 2001 the giants from DownUnder faltered again but did not go as far as losing. Both theseencounters took place at the Cricket Club of India’s BrabourneStadium. It is however, the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai’s premier venuethat will play host to Nasser Hussain’s England as their tour of Indiakicks off with the two-day clash against the Mumbai Cricket AssociationPresident’s XI on Sunday.Watching the England cricketers at the nets, it was difficult to keepout the thought that so many of these players were inexperienced andindeed untested in conditions of the kind you normally get in India.Nasser Hussain however, had a long net and seemed at ease, playing thesweep shot repeatedly to the spinners. The bowlers of course were agenerous dose of local lads with the big boys of the England team onlyhaving a stint now and then.The playing conditions for this game are quite different from anyother – the two-day duration, the cap of 90 overs a side for the firstinnings and the fact that the day is split into three sessions of twohours each, beginning at 0930 local time, are a departure fromtradition. The reduced length of the game might have had a definitebearing on the kind of pitch served up. Although by no means quick orbouncy, the pitch has a fair bit of grass on it, something that you donot normally see here in the subcontinent. Speaking to pressmen aftera practice session, Hussain remarked, “The pitch is definitely unlikeanything we expected to get in India. There’s a bit of grass on it andthe curator says it’ll bounce and seam a bit. I think it will turn onthe first day itself though, gripping the grass.”With the pitch out of the way, not posing any real problems, thematter of team selection becomes a bit more complicated. There can’tbe a horses for courses approach and England will be keen to give alltheir players some sort of match practice before the Test matchesbegin. “I’ve got about 90 percent of the side worked out in my headreally,” began Hussain when asked about his likely team. “I roughlyknow what my final team is going to look like. It’s just that I don’thave experience leading these lads.” Hussain, along with DuncanFletcher, will come up with the final playing eleven on the morning ofthe encounter.For their part, the MCA President’s XI are taking this match veryseriously. Although there is an undercurrent of disappointment at thefact that the game is not of three days’ duration, the hosts are goingabout the business of preparing in right earnest. The squad of fifteenwere joined in the nets by Sameer Dighe, fresh from his return fromSouth Africa. Nursing a back injury, Dighe returned from South Africabut has begun light exercises with the team. However, he was not namedin the preliminary squad and hence is not in contention for a place inthe side.The MCA President’s XI boasts four former India cricketers as of now.Vinod Kambli, who scored a double hundred against England back in 1993leads the pack, with Sairaj Bahutule, Nilesh Kulkarni and Wasim Jafferfollowing closely. Jaffer, who is suffering from shoulder spasms,though is not 100 percent fit and his status will be evaluated on themorning of the match.Coach of the MCA President’s XI side, former India opening batLalchand Rajput, was quick to point out the importance of the game.”Naturally we would have preferred to have played a three-day game,but there is nothing we can do about that. We look at this as a greatopportunity to get some match practice in before the start of theRanji season.”Seemingly relaxed and confident, Rajput went on to add, “Our strengthis basically our spin bowlers. We know the conditions well and thisshould help us.” In conclusion, Rajput drew attention to somethingthat has been a source for concern across the board – England’sbowling. “Their attack is inexperienced and this will put them at adisadvantage,” he said.With just two days in which to showcase their wares, neither team isparticularly keen on playing for a result. A match that is moreacademic in its scope than anything else, the MCA President’s XI -England clash will provide an opportunity for batsmen to get a goodstint out in the middle under their belts. England’s batting looks ingood health, with Trescothick, Butcher, Hussain, Thorpe, Vaughan andRamprakash all fit and raring to go. The fact that Ashley Giles hasnot fully recovered from his surgery means that Matthew Hoggard withjust two Test caps is the most experienced specialist bowler in theside. While that may not be good news for the visitors, you can besure that Vinod Kambli is licking his lips, reliving the 224 he scoredat this same venue against the English eight years ago.The teams:England (from):Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe,Nasser Hussain, Mark Ramprakash, Warren Hegg, James Foster, AshleyGiles, Martyn Ball, James Ormond, Craig White, Matthew Hoggard,Richard Dawson, Richard Johnson and Usman Afzaal.Mumbai Cricket Association President’s XI (from):Paras Mhambrey, Wasim Jaffer, Vinayak Mane, Vinod Kambli, BhavinThakkar, Amol Muzumdar, Kunal More, Abhijit Shetye, Sairaj Bahutule,Nilesh Kulkarni, Rajesh Pawar, Ramesh Powar, Avishkar Salve, RupamMalviya, Sushanth Manjrekar and Nilesh Patwardhan.Umpires: Shavir Tarapore and VN Kulkarni