Wankhede pitch will be a slow turner, says curator

Mumbai, March 31 (IANS): The Wankhede Stadium wicket for Saturday’s World Cup final will be a slow turner, like most wickets in the subcontinent during this time of the year, says curator Sudhir Naik.

Ground workers pull a roller at the Wankhede stadium where the ICC Cricket World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka will be played on Saturday in Mumbai

Naik, a former India player, however, insists the pitch will still be full of runs and the team batting first should have the advantage.

“It will be an ideal one-day wicket,” Naik, who toured England with the India team in 1974, told IANS.

Naik feels a score of 270-280 would be very much on the cards in the day-nighter.

“The bounce will be even with a good carry. The pacers will get something out of the wicket in the initial overs,” said the 66-year-old former opener who played three Tests, making his debut at Edgbaston, and two ODIs.

“But the team batting first will be at an advantage as the spinners will get assistance in the second session of the match. But the ball will not turn viciously, it will be a slow turner,” said Naik.

“As it is very hot, the high moisture content may make things difficult for the batsmen in the second innings,” said Naik, who captained Bombay Ranji Trophy team.

Naik, an M.Sc in organic chemistry, said the authorities have already decided to use a chemical spray to reduce the impact of dew on the game.

Excessive dew late in the evening can swing the balance towards teams batting second in day-night matches. The dew will freshen up the pitch and the bowlers will find it difficult to grip the ball that gets damp on a moist outfield.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had used the chemical spray to reduce the impact of dew at Brabourne Stadium here during the 2006 Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and New Zealand.

The chemical APSA-80, commonly used in agriculture, was also sprayed on the outfield at Mohali in the past.

Sri Lanka call up veteran Vaas

Colombo, March 31 (AFP): Sri Lanka on Thursday called-up 37-year-old seamer Chaminda Vaas and all-rounder Suraj Randiv as World Cup final cover for injured duo Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan.

“Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Angelo) Mathews,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Vaas, 37 and Randiv, 26, were due to fly out to Mumbai later Thursday ahead of Saturday’s title match against India.

Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, has played through the six-week tournament despite being afflicted by hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee.

All-rounder Mathews, 23, picked up a right-side strain while fielding during Tuesday’s semi-final win against New Zealand.

Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, want to win the cup for legendary spinner Muralitharan who retires on Saturday after a world record haul of 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets.

Vaas, who was part of the 1996 winning team, retired from Tests in July with 322 Test and 400 one-day wickets.

He last played an international when India toured Sri Lanka in August 2008, taking the wicket of Yuvraj Singh for a duck. Randiv, who made his one-day debut against India in 2009, has taken 22 ODI wickets.

He last played when Sri Lanka toured Australia for a one-day series last year.

Match official appointments for final announced

As the teams are reduced to just two, the match official appointments for the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 have been announced. The final will take place in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Saturday and will feature Sri Lanka and India.

The match official appointments are as follows:

2 April - Sri Lanka v India, Mumbai

Jeff Crowe (match referee), Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar (both on-field), Ian Gould (third umpire), Steve Davis (fourth umpire)

Sri Lanka president looks for Murali tribute

Colombo, March 31 (AFP): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has urged the national team to win the World Cup final as a fitting finale to the brilliant career of spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.

Rajapakse, who will fly to Mumbai to watch Saturday’s match against India, congratulated the side on making it through to the last game and said he hoped the trophy that Sri Lanka won in 1996 would soon return to Colombo.

“The president wants us to win the World Cup as a tribute to Murali who retires from international cricket after this tournament,” his spokesman Bandula Jayasekera told AFP.

Muralitharan, who played in the 1996 team, took his 534th one-day international wicket off his last ball on home soil as New Zealand were defeated in the semi-final in Colombo on Tuesday.

India beat Pakistan by 29 runs on Wednesday to set up a mouth-watering final clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.