Nothing wrong in exploiting home conditions: Dhoni
The Indian skipper is of the view that a turning pitch could also be called a sporting track as it gives both bowlers and batsmen equal chances to excel.
Amid brouhaha over the Eden Gardens pitch, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said there was nothing wrong in exploiting the home advantage by preparing spin-friendly tracks.A controversy erupted after India lost the first Test and BCCI reportedly sent an SOS to CAB for preparing a turning track for the second Test.The Cricket Association Bengal though said they have prepared a sporting track for the crucial game, the outcome of which will have a bearing on India's status as number team.Dhoni is of the view that a turning pitch could also be called a sporting track as it gives both bowlers and batsmen equal chances to excel. "I think a big emphasis is being given on the sportingwicket. Nowhere it's written that there should not be anygrass for a sporting wicket or bounce for fast bowlers. "Sporting wicket according to me is where you challengethe batsmen and at the same time there is something for thebatters. I think when there is a turning track it ischallenging," Dhoni said after team practice. The India skipper also said that every country has aunique element to exploit and for India it was spin. "Every country specialises in something. When you go toSouth Africa you see bouncy and seam movement. You go NewZealand and you would see a lot of swing. And we are specialbecause the ball turns and there is bounce for the spinners.Of course, skills are required to play spin," he said. MorePTI TAP ATAT02131606NNNNSPORT SA DHONI 2ZCZCPRI GEN NAT SPO.KOLKATA DEL37SPORT SA DHONI 2 On his assessment of the 22-yard-strip, Dhoni said it didnot look to assist spin at least on the first two days andindicated that the hosts would go with a three-way pace attackwith Raina making for a debut. "There is a bit of grass on the wicket. I think theseamers will get a bit of help. There is no pavilion at oneside so you can see a bit of breeze going across. I thinkthere will be a bit of help for spinners later. "There is a possibility (three pacers and debut forRaina) but we will have to wait till tomorrow. If your battersare not performing and you go with five bowlers then yourbatting line-up becomes weak. We are always being comfortablewith four bowlers. "It's a tough call for us. It would have been easier tohave a good all-rounder in your side but we don't really havethat luxury. We have to be very careful about that," he said. Dhoni said they will fight hard to square the series. "It's the challenges that make the life interesting. Weare looking forward to coming back in the series and doingwell. If it was so easy then it would not have been calledInternational cricket. We are trying to level the serieshere," he said. On being asked if batting was India's weak link, Dhonisaid it is not fair to blame batsmen alone for the defeat inthe first Test. PTI TAP ATAT02131609NNNN