Four elderly ladies spent yesterday morning on their hands and knees vigorously scrubbing grass clippings off the pitch at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
The ladies used large handheld brushes and collected the trimmings in dustpans as they slowly made their way down the pitch before it was rolled sideways by curators.
The venue, which was inaugurated in 2008, first hosted international cricket in 2013.
Since then, the stadium has hosted only two ODIs and the chasing side has been victorious on both occasions. Australia has played at the venue only once where they were defeated by India in a T20 International in 2013.
Captain Aaron Finch, who also called the ground home for two IPL seasons at Gujarat Lions, was the only member of Australia’s current team to play in that match, smashing 89 (52).
Friday’s game between India vs Australia will be third ODI at this venue and India have lost on both the previous occasion when they played here. So, the primary aim for the Virat Kohli-led side would be to change the record and square the series.
Pitch prep in Rajkot!
The second #INDvAUS ODI starts 7pm AEDT tonight, live on Foxtel + Kayo Sports. pic.twitter.com/oMupqDlkvO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2020
